The mayor of East Greenville reversed course Monday on his willingness to hire an officer for the borough's police department. Two weeks after declaring he was not authorized or qualified to make the hire, Keith Gerhart announced that he hoped to add a part-time officer at a public meeting in November.

            During the council meeting, Gerhart stated that the emergence of a specific candidate changed his mind. In response to a question from Debbie Finn during a four-minute bathroom break called by Vice President Jim Raftery, the mayor said that no additional candidates would be initially interviewed.

            At Gerhart's request, the members approved a motion to begin the process of hiring the officer next month. Lon Brinckman II cast the lone opposing vote.

            After the meeting, Gerhart said the favored candidate of 12 applicants has previous police experience and has already acquired some of the required certifications. However, he would not disclose the candidate's gender or provide any additional details. 

            The officer's hourly rate would need to be negotiated by the borough and the candidate, according to the mayor. He said the borough advertisement seeking applicants for full- and part-time officers set the rate as commiserate to the candidate's experience.

            Two weeks earlier, Gerhart announced a decision to postpone the hire, citing the borough's personnel issue with police chief Andrew Skelton, who put himself on leave early last month.

            The item was removed from a meeting agenda originally posted three days earlier on the borough's website. During the previous meeting, Gerhart stated that the hire would be made once the issue with Skelton was resolved.

            The mayor said then he is not authorized or qualified to make recommendations for a new officer. Hiring an officer now would be like hiring someone without involving that person's boss, according to solicitor Michael Peters.