Cheswick to vote on police merger with Springdale Township

Cheswick Council is expected to vote Thursday on the creation of a regional police department with Springdale Township.

After more than a year of discussion and studying the options, both municipalities in March began advertising an ordinance that would make the consolidation official and rename the departments as the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department.

Cheswick is expected to vote at its meeting at 7 p.m. in the borough building, 220 S. Atlantic Ave.

Councilman Michael Girardi said council wanted to have a special meeting rather than vote on it at a regular meeting because it’s such an important issue.

“Last week, we sent out a five-page letter to residents explaining to them what was going on,” he said. “We’ve been having a series of informal Q&A town halls.”

Girardi anticipates council approving the ordinance.

Springdale Township still has to vote on the ordinance. A date for that vote hasn’t been set.

Girardi said that if both approve the ordinance, then a new board will be formed specifically for the police department consolidation. It would be responsible for working on personnel specifics and coordinating with the state on the consolidation requirements, among other things.

Plans call for the new department’s name to be painted on the patrol cars. New uniform patches and logos would be developed.

Officials from both municipalities have said the merger will save money. This year, Springdale Township has $356,000 budgeted for police services and Cheswick, $316,000.

Officials have said the new department would have a $500,000 budget and could start operating by July 1.

Mike Naviglia, who serves as chief of both departments, told residents in March that plans called for two officers and a supervisor to be on duty 90 percent of the time.

One proposal would be to divide the coverage area into zones.

Zone 1 would cover the Allegheny riverfront in Cheswick to Route 28. Zone 2 would be the remainder of the township, starting near the New Kensington Bridge.

A state Department of Community and Economic Development study recommended the merger last year.