You ask and you shall receive -- sometimes.

With Nazareth Borough Council's unanimous approval to the police chief's request, applications will be accepted for part-time police officers -- as soon as the borough's secretary advertises the available positions.

Council previously approved the hiring of two part-time officers in July, but only one was hired. In September, the hiring of four part-time officers was approved but, again, only one was hired.

The motion made at Monday night's meeting did not specify how many officers would be hired. However, Police Chief Thomas Trachta asked to hire four part-time officers during the borough's Jan. 23 Police Committee meeting.

Because the borough's Hiring Committee will be handling applications -- a different process than in the past -- all previous applicants and hires must apply again.

According to the motion, "All previously filed applications for part-time police employment and previously approved hires will be rescinded by this motion."

Council also approved the following purchases:

• A breaching ram, which is used to force open closed or locked doors. Trachta said his officers recently had to borrow Tatamy’s breaching ram in order to execute a search warrant on a meth lab. The ram will cost $220.

• Two PROTECH ballistic shields for $869 each.

The following request was not approved: restoring cable to the television in the police department's headquarters.

Councilman Charles Donello made the motion to reconnect the RCN cable, but the motion died for the lack of a second.

The television has been heatedly debated since a Highway Department employee was instructed by Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. to disconnect the cable on Jan. 20.

Trachta previously said the television was used for training purposes and so his officers can stay up to date on news and weather that may affect the borough.

The mayor, however, said he has heard rumors of officers from Nazareth and other departments watching the television for entertainment.

When it comes to rumors, Councilman Michael Kopach said, "Seeing is believing."

But the "seeing" isn't made easy. Only the mayor has access to the department's headquarters, and a piece of paper taped over a window blocks an outsider's view of what's going on inside.

Trachta said council members are not allowed access to the department because of information that must remain confidential.

When it comes to the piece of paper, Trachta said he is "strongly opposed" to removing it.

"You take down the piece of paper, now you're going to have victims, people of crimes, people making complaints -- you can’t have them on display," Trachta explained. "It’s not a highway garage."

According to Trachta, cooperation with police investigations will be hard to come by if the paper is removed. He added that the situation is made more difficult because the department has one door for entry and exit.

"We really should have two doors so we can take people out the back door, otherwise people know your business," he said. "The piece of paper is so people feel comfortable opening up to us, to speak to us."

Larry Stoudt, vice president of council, quickly interrupted.

"Just drop it, Mike. You’re not going to win this argument," he said.

Despite the lack of access and piece of paper, Kopach said someone needs to follow up on rumors.

"Somebody's gotta take the whip and check on our employees," he said. "We’re spinning our wheels here. We have a team but we have no coach. Nobody wants to do nothing, nobody wants to get involved."

Stoudt agreed.

"I’ve been saying that for a long time but nobody listens to me," he said, adding, "We’re the elected officials in this community, but there are people in this community who continue to tell us how to run this community."

The dispute over the piece of paper remains up in the air -- for now.