Mayor Discusses Department Woes, Nazareth Detective Walks Out

After a two-hour workshop in Council chambers, Nazareth Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. was almost rendered speechless.

“On a personal note: after sitting through this meeting, I don’t think I need to say anything,” said Daugherty, the last person to speak after the raucous Thursday night workshop. “I should just go home." 

But he didn’t.

“I will say this,” he calmly continued. “I stated this in the past -- and it wasn’t made to insult anyone -- but this council should not be trying to run the police department.”

Daugherty’s comments came after the nine-member council grappled with how to handle the concerns of Spring Brook Terrace homeowners whose cul-de-sac floods due to water runoff from Upper Nazareth Township; whether members of the borough’s highway department could wear shorts during light-duty projects; what department should maintain benches throughout the borough, and more.

“There are so many other issues council needs to worry about,” Daugherty said. “In essence, that is why [to contract services from ]. I would like to thank council for supporting that recommendation.”

But as the mayor began to discuss the cost of running the borough’s police department, tensions started to rise.

“The borough right now is faced with a situation of practically being dropped by all insurance carriers,” Daugherty said. “We’re on the last one that will touch us.”

Pointing out a recently injured, full-time police officer sitting in the back of council chambers, Daugherty added, “There are more storms to weather in regards to workers’ compensation claims. I’m just waiting for the letter saying we’re dropped and we have to go to the state."

According to Daugherty, if the borough is forced to use state-issued insurance, the cost would be 25 percent more than the current highest rate.

“I don’t know where that stops,” he said. “I honestly don’t.”

Daugherty said he has been looking at trends, costs and the future, and so should council members.

“The cost of the borough running its own police department is going to consume the borough,” he said. “It consumes every meeting the borough has. It seems to be the subject that always comes up. It’s such a far- and wide-reaching department that it affects the borough in so many ways. As I said at the last meeting, I’d like to see the borough keep its hometown police department, but I don’t think it’s practical.”

Daugherty pointed out several figures that Paul Kokolus, the borough’s secretary/treasurer, provided him.

To keep the department intact next year, according to Daugherty, taxes would need to increase at least 3 mills, later adding that $267,000 has been taken out of the general fund for two officers currently collecting workers’ compensation.

“That’s bleeding,” Daugherty said.

At that point in Daugherty’s speech to council and members of the public, Det. Fred Lahovski, who was sitting in the back of council chambers, walked out, obviously displeased with what the mayor had to say.

“That’s real professional,” said borough resident Becky Butz as Lahovski walked out. “Real professional.”

Despite the brief interruption, the mayor continued discussing the borough’s workers’ compensation claims.

“For police only -- since 2007 – the borough has paid out $482,288,” he said. “Our insurance companies are losing money on us and all they are going to do is jack up their prices until they won’t give us insurance anymore.”

In regards to negotiations, the mayor said he has a list of questions and concerns from the borough’s chief of police, Thomas Tractha, and that each of them will be addressed “in time.”

“[Disbanding the police department] is not something I want to do, but it’s a cold, hard fact,” Daugherty added. “And that’s where we stand on the police [department].”

The next Nazareth Borough Council meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, July 5, at 159 W. Center St. The meeting has been moved back one day due to the July 4th holiday.