Norwin area: North Huntingdon hires officer, appoints members to panels

North Huntingdon hires Irwin officer

Irwin is looking for a new police officer and hopes to be able to hire one next month.

Officer Ryan Krause resigned from the Irwin police department on Jan. 8. Krause, who was hired in August, took a job with the North Huntingdon police department, which approved his hiring last month, pending completion of the physical, psychological and pre-employment drug screening.

Irwin Chief Dan Wensel said that the borough’s civil service commission will conduct a test on Jan. 18 for candidates for the police officer’s job. The officers also will undergo a physical agility test and an oral interview. If possible, Wensel said he hopes to have a candidate for borough council to approve in February.

Irwin has offered a $5,000 signing bonus in 2025 as an incentive for hiring police officers and retaining them. Any officer hired this year would be eligible for the bonus, payable in $2,500 increments for the first two years, then $2,500 for the next two years. If they leave within the two-year period, they would have to repay a portion of the bonus, determined by how long they had been on the job within that two-year period.

North Huntingdon reappoints panel members

The North Huntingdon commissioners reappointed several people to the planning commission, civil service commission and zoning hearing board last month.

Thomas Kerber and Joseph Dykta were reappointed to four-year terms on the township planning commission.

Jordan Raymond was reappointed to a five-year term on the zoning hearing board, while Andrea Sullivan was reappointed to a six-year term on the civil service commission.

Robert Merda was reappointed to a five-year term on the North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority.