The recent invitation by the Pennsburg Mayor for neighboring municipalities to join in a conversation regarding regional police coverage is just that – an invitation to have a conversation.

            Maybe a regional police department is not viable at this time, maybe it is.  Perhaps some other types of ideas could come from a conversation or perhaps the idea would be killed for good.

            But, it's hard to tell if you don't have that conversation.  Having that conversation might reveal the why and why nots.

            Back in the seventies a regional police department was formed between East Greenville and Pennsburg that eventually included Red Hill.

            Governed by a nine member police commission (three from each borough, including the mayors) I had the privilege of serving on that commission for 12 years, eight as chairman of that board.

            I have never had the privilege of working with that large of a diverse board whose constant concern was serving their respective boroughs.  We were never opposed to talking to each other individually between meetings, bouncing off ideas, questions, and concerns.  Everybody came to the meeting prepared.  Our meetings seldom lasted more than 45-minutes.

            We had one borough council member who was a vocal opponent of the board.  He was eventually named as a member to the police commission.  I went to his house and had coffee with his mother and himself and we talked.  I appointed him has chairman of the police personnel committee and he became one of the most valued members of the commission.

            A simple, friendly chat can go a long way.

            East Greenville and Pennsburg footed the majority of the budget for the department with Red Hill paying a lessor share because the borough was small in size and population. 

            I remember once when the members from Red Hill came to a budget meeting (held every September so the budget could be presented to the boroughs in October) and told us they didn't have enough money to fund their share one year.  Not that they didn't want to – they just didn't have the funds.  The budget committee went to work and sharpened their pencils to find cuts and additional sources of revenue.  Eventually, upon agreement, the East Greenville and Pennsburg shares were adjusted to keep the regional police force intact.

            Eventually, after the old-timers left the commission, it appeared to have turned political and fell apart.  None of the members who served on the board during my time were around anymore when that happened.

            In doesn't hurt to invite conversation on a variety of topics.

            One way or the other, it can be an education.