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ZELIENOPLE — The days of going to a dealership and buying a new vehicle are over, at least for the Zelienople police.

The council unanimously approved the motion to allow the police department to buy four vehicles next year. The purchase would not take place until after the establishment of next year’s budget, which will be available after Jan 1.

“Today’s purchasing environment is completely different,” said Cindy Edwards, assistant borough manager at a Monday, July 31 borough council meeting. “So when buying a vehicle, it is recommended that we place an order though a COSTAR dealer.”

COSTAR is a Pennsylvania cooperative purchasing program which was created to cost-effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business, according to the Pennsylvania Government website.

The borough will expand its social media policy to cover all public officials and volunteers.

“The purpose of this updated policy is to address the responsible use of social media,” Edwards said, adding it would include public officials, employees and volunteers who might be viewed as representatives “to ensure that social media is appropriately within the guidelines.”

The guidelines prohibit public officials from “positing content inconsistent with their duties.”

The guidelines also strictly prohibit the use of racist, and sexual comments.

Edwards said this expansion of the policy was not due to any recent incidents, but a preventive measure.

“It’s pretty standard,” Edwards said. ‘The only update is to make it apply to public officials and volunteers.”