SEVEN FIELDS — Borough council approved a resolution Monday, Aug. 7, to begin the dissolution of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department.

“There’s a lot that goes into that. There’s all kinds of financial decisions, disposal of equipment and the labor aspect as well,” Mayor Dean Galitsis said. “We’re not cutting the Gordian Knot, but by that same token, we can’t stop time while we work that out without providing for police service.”

The planned dissolution would coincide with a move to seek supplemental coverage through the Cranberry Township Police Department.

With two remaining officers as of August, the dissolution resolution cites the department as failing to provide “the minimum required level of service and protection promised in the charter agreement” for the borough.

“Make no mistake: The safety of our residents is the utmost priority, and the borough has been covered by a combination of the current department, the Pennsylvania State Police and surrounding municipalities,” Galitsis said.

However, the resolution was the first step in improving that police coverage, solicitor Megan Turnbull said, with it opening the door for a short-term agreement with another municipality.

“This resolution does authorize and takes actions to start to take back or create concurrent lease jurisdiction,” she said. “Which would allow, at least in the short term, the development of some coverage for uncovered shifts.”

Council member Jeff Smouse was the only dissenting vote.

“I am a bit concerned that there is a lack of a good plan,” Smouse said. “It’s going to result in taxes that would have to be raised significantly.”

While he agreed that it was “a bad situation” between the two municipalities, he said he wanted a more detailed plan moving forward.

“You missed the executive session in the last police meeting,” council president Kimberly Regan-Koch said. “What we negotiated with our willing partner is a very, very good cost for our neighborhood.”

Borough council previously met with Cranberry Township Police Department representatives during an executive session at its July 10 meeting.

“And honestly, it’s not going to be any more money than what we’re paying plus the legal services we’ve had to incur with this problem,” Regan-Koch said. “It is something we can handle without raising taxes.”

Following the approval of the resolution, council also voted to enter discussions for supplemental police services with the Cranberry Township Police Department.

“We didn’t want to leave the borough without dependable local police coverage,” Galitsis said. “We have to iron out the deal with Cranberry in the short term, we have to figure out the permanent solution long-term, and we also have to disassociate from the regional department.”

Cranberry Township provided police services to the borough prior to its agreement with Evans City in 2013, with the planned supplemental coverage being a potential steppingstone to a long-term partnership.

“Everything is up front and out in the open,” Galitsis said. “We’re declaring that we’re going to be going with Cranberry in the short term, continuing to evaluate Cranberry and Northern Regional for a permanent contract deal and then looking to dissolve the regional police force.”

Northern Regional Police Department — which serves Pine, Richland and Marshall townships as well as Bradford Woods borough — met with Seven Fields concerning a partnership two weeks before its meeting with Cranberry Township Police Department.

According to Galitsis, both departments remain potential long-term partners.

“I think Cranberry was really the only one who was willing to jump in on a supplemental, short-term deal,” he said. “And that’s why we’re having that discussion with them.”

While Turnbull said she was in contact with the Evans City borough solicitor, the formal dissolution of the department would remain a lengthy process.

However, Galitsis said they hoped to see supplemental coverage in the borough “as soon as possible.”

“Very soon,” he said. “I would say in a month or less.”