Members of the Rose of Sharon Lodge 3, Fraternal Order of Police, are threatening charges of unfair labor practices if plans continue toward a possible merger of the Sharon and Southwest Mercer County Regional police departments without representation from the FOP.

Officials from Sharon, Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex met Aug. 21 to discuss the possible police department merger. Members of the FOP and their attorney, David A. Ristvey, were "disturbed" by the comments of several elected officials who said the "Sharon FOP has no role to play in this matter," according to a letter Ristvey wrote to Sharon council members.

In a news release issued Monday, Ristvey said the FOP "recently learned that at the Sept. 26 Sharon City Council meeting, council may consider either funding a study to determine whether or not to consolidate the Sharon Police Department with the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department or actually voting to consolidate.

"The Sharon FOP has not been contacted, informed or invited to participate or offer comment on the funding of this study or on the actual consolidation. Until further information is learned, the Sharon FOP is unanimously opposed to the city of Sharon funding such a study or actually voting to consolidate the city's police department with the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department," the release said.

Sharon council President Fred Hoffman said Monday an agenda has not been set for Thursday's meeting, but most likely council will vote on whether to study a possible merger, something Hoffman said won't cost any money.

Hoffman said he is aware the police contract runs through December 2004 and said it has not been violated. He said the expected vote Thursday has nothing to do with negotiations.

"It's just a vote for a study, and we have legislative power to do that," Hoffman said. He added that council is obligated to look at things.

According to Ristvey's letter, Constitutional and Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board provisions "mandate that the FOP be part of the process concerning the consolidation or merger, either by voluntary recognition and collective bargaining, or as ordered by the (labor relations board) or the courts pursuant to an unfair labor practice charge. ... Any action taken to change terms and conditions of employment or to out-source or contract-out police work or employment would result in the FOP filing an unfair labor practice charge."

Officials met in August with James DeCapua, head of the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission and executive director of the Mercer County Regional Council of Governments, to discuss a possible merger of the two departments. It was agreed at the meeting to continue to investigate a merger, despite protests of Sharon Mayor David O. Ryan and Sharon Police Chief Thomas Burke, who said they don't support a merger.

Police representatives were not invited to the meeting, and Burke was told by Hoffman and Farrell City Councilwoman Helen Marenchin that the police don't have a say in the matter.

DeCapua is out of town until Thursday and was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Monday night Farrell city officials expressed their disturbance over Ristvey's letter.

Mayor William A. Morocco said he received the letter notifying him and other council members that the FOP does not wish to have any future discussions unless several conditions are met.

Several Farrell council members, who didn't receive copies of the letter, wanted to know why it was even necessary.

"We didn't ask for a merger," Mrs. Marenchin said.

Morocco said they didn't have to respond to it.

Councilman Louis Falconi, clearly upset, asked why Sharon police use the Shenango Valley Regional Lockup, which is in the Farrell City Building.

"Explain to me the procedures of the lockup for Sharon," he said.

City Manager LaVon Saternow said each police department pays the same fee -- $10 an hour -- to the city of Farrell to use the lockup. She said the fee has been the same since it began.

Falconi said, "In light of everything I think we should consider increasing that fee."

He said he was also upset he didn't receive a copy of the letter.

"That's a joke. That's bull. I want to know about these things," he said. "I think we should get a written report from (Sharon council) meetings," he said, adding he didn't think the correspondence should be acknowledged.

Morocco said he would provide everyone with a copy of the letter.

Herald Staff Writer Larissa Theodore contributed to this report