Harrisville Borough council filled a long-vacant seat at its meeting Tuesday night and promoted Lt. Jeff Holidge to serve as police chief for the municipality’s department.

According to Mayor Gary Hughes in a Thursday interview, the council has been operating with six members for more than a year. Dave Evans was appointed to fill the position.

“We’re supposed to have seven people. We had one guy, (Evans), interested, but he hadn’t been living in the borough long enough. He just reached the point where he could be voted in,” he said.

The council also filled the position of police chief for the municipality’s department with Holidge.

“(Holidge) is qualified. He’s personable and all business at the same time,” Hughes said.

He added that the borough has three police officers employed in the department, but there is discussion of adding more to the ranks.

A discussion surrounding funding for Superior Ambulance Service in Grove City took place, Hughes said.

“A task force has been put in place that involves 22 municipalities. It’s a unique thing no one has done to fund EMS. Because a lot of EMS services have disappeared,” he said. “It could involve a half-mill or one-mill tax on citizens.”

Hughes said he’s enjoyed seeing residents in attendance at the meetings.

“We’re getting more audience participation, which is good. Good things are starting to happen here,” he said.

The next council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 3.