Protecting Newport Township Services

The following is a transcript of 28 News Reporter Kerry Shahen`s Report. RESIDENTS EXPECTED HEAR...THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE REDUCED TO 1 OUT OF 10 OFFICERS...THE 3 PAID FIRE DRIVER POSITIONS WOULD BE ELIMINATED, AS WOULD THE STREETS DEPARTMENT...BUT WHAT ACTUALLY PASSED WAS MUCH DIFFERENT. .((NATS CROWD)) PEOPLE PACKED THE ROOM, POURED OUT THE DOORS AND EVEN STOOD OUTSIDE AT WINDOWS TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD HEAR AND THAT THEY WERE HEARD. . "Is there anyway the commission can guaruntee safety will not be compromised?" ."When I shut my light off at night and I wake up in the morning, I want to know someone`s got my back." ¤.¶TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONERS LISTENED TO AN HOUR AND A HALF OF PUBLIC COMMENTS...AND EXPLAINED THAT IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW, THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE 55 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DEBT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ."This is a sad day in Newport Township, I can see all of your faces, you`re sad." SOME OF THOSE FACES BRIGHTENED A LITTLE WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE. .ALL 10 POLICE OFFICERS WILL KEEP THEIR JOBS, BUT SOME OF THE 9 PART TIMERS WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR HOURS. 48 HOURS OUT OF EVERY WEEK WILL NOW BE COVERED BY STATE POLICE IN WYOMING. Richard Swawola Part-Time Newport Police Officer told 28 News... "I would have liked to see it turn out better. I would have liked to see 24 hour municipal police protection." Cheryl Merlina of Wanamie told 28 News "We have to work together as a community, get the crime watch going, support that and maybe instead of this ripping us apart i`tll bring us closer together." 1 OF THE 3 FULL TIME FIRE DRIVERS POSITIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED. THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE COVERED BY VOLUNTEERS AND THE 2 FULL TIME STREETS DEPT. WORKERS WILL GO TO PART TIME. Sarah Price of Alden said "I think they were fiscally repsonsible as they were supposed to be. The cuts weren`t as drastic as we were thinking. We`re left with more police protection than we thought." SOME OF THE TOWNSHIP`S DEBT COMES FROM A MISAPPOPRIATION OF FUNDS AND A CARRYOVER OF DEBT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. Richard Zika...Township Manager told 28 News "No one knew what the left hand and the right hand were doing. And now? There`s nothing that happens unless it`s justified and signed for in advance." TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONERS ALSO ELIMINATED A SECRETARY`S POSITION AS WELL AS THEIR OWN SALARIES. ALL OF THE CUTS WILL HELP THE TOWNSHIP TO GO FROM 53 THOUSAND IN DEBT, TO 17 THOUSAND. COMMISSIONERS ARE HOPING TO REINSTATE SOME OF THE POISITIONS AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR. .