'Hostage' Situation Killed Colonial Regional Deal, Mayor Says

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye Jr. has used the term recently at several borough meetings: That Nazareth was "held hostage."

He said it again at Monday night's Police Committee meeting, the first since Lower Nazareth Township announced that it wouldn't sign off on contracting Colonial Regional Police for the borough's police coverage.

"When I inherited this, I've learned a lot in seven weeks," the mayor told residents Monday. "A name kept popping up in Lower Nazareth and Upper Nazareth. When you have a noose around your neck, it sort of distracts us. But we're moving forward."

Strye had read a statement, previously published on Nazareth Patch, in which he again mentioned "it is with regret we have these ongoing issues with a former police officer who is holding Nazareth hostage."

Strye did not name the officer publicly.

"I am disappointed that Lower Nazareth voted against us under these conditions," resident Becky Butz said.

One reason Lower Nazareth has given for not contracting out Colonial Regional was regarding past lawsuits and grievances filed by Nazareth Police Association members.

Resident and Nazareth Patch commenter Wayne Schissler kicked off the meeting by stressing that the council and the union resolve issues.

"I'm afraid," he said. "I don't want to see us go down the same road again."

Councilman Jack Herbst, chairman of the police committee, said the council has started 2014 negotiations with the police union.

"So far, it's been amicable," Herbst said. "It's about getting the best police services at the best cost."

"The situation is now over," Strye said Thursday. "But the pending litigation was used verbally against us."