More than eight months after dissolving the Upper Perk Police Commission, East Greenville Borough Council approved multiple resolutions to create its own department on Monday.

            During the special meeting, council approved separate motions to create the East Greenville Borough Police Department, hire an interim police chief, appoint a consultant who will help the municipality hire a permanent chief, advertise the specifications to convert the Colonial Village Clubhouse into the police department and purchase a police vehicle.

            Member Ryan Pugh voted against each motion during the 28-minute meeting. Joe Arahill participated by telephone. Jennifer Moran did not attend. 

            "We're getting things done," Mayor Ryan Sloyer said after the meeting.

            The approved ordinance allows the municipality to officially end its participation in the police commission and create the new department, according to Solicitor Stephen Kramer.

            Andrew Skelton, a retired Pennsylvania state trooper, will serve as the interim police chief. Skelton is a Hereford native who was recently hired by the municipality to consult on the creation of the new department. 

            According to Sloyer, Skelton will be sworn in June 1 and will serve in that role for between 45 and 90 days. 

            Council President Tracey Hunsinger told the audience that Skelton will be paid $45 an hour, the same fee he agreed to as a consultant, and will receive no pension or health benefits. 

"(Skelton) will be an at-will chief," Sloyer said.

            According to the mayor, Skelton will be available for a meet-and-greet with residents soon after he is sworn in.

            SafeCity Solutions, a law enforcement consulting firm based in Perkasie, will be paid $5,000 to help the borough hire a full-time chief. According to the mayor, the firm will advertise the position and screen potential candidates.

            According to Sloyer, Skelton has expressed interest in the permanent chief position. The mayor said the interim chief would have to follow the same process as everyone else in order to get hired as the permanent head of the department.

            After the meeting, Sloyer described Skelton as an outgoing individual whose goal is to help East Greenville get its police department up and running. 

            "He wants to be involved in police work," Sloyer said of the interim chief. "It's in his blood."

            Skelton will work out of borough hall until municipal officials complete their conversion of the clubhouse. After the meeting, Sloyer said he expects the police department to move into the clubhouse by July or August.

            "It's an aggressive schedule," the mayor said. "We're working on a tight schedule."

            Coverage from the state police in the borough will increase on June 1 from its current rate, according to Sloyer. He said after the meeting that coverage would decrease as the municipality establishes its department.

            Council also voted to spend no more than $38,000 to purchase and outfit a 2017 Ford Utility Police Interceptor. Municipal officials will purchase the brand new vehicle from Fred Beans Ford in Doylestown for $28,016.72. According to Sloyer, another department cancelled its order for the vehicle.

            Responding to a question from mayoral candidate Keith Gerhart, Sloyer rejected a request to impose a moratorium on police spending until after the May 16 primary election.

            Near the end of the meeting, Pugh made a motion to push back the borough's dissolution date to Dec. 31. However, it did not receive a second.