As the vote to keep Jefferson-Clark Regional police coverage in the borough fell to him, Fredonia Council President Larry McAdams took a deep breath and paused for a moment:

"My biggest problem is that I'm for the police, but I said I would do what the survey said."

And with a simple "yes," McAdams cast the deciding vote to do away with the coverage after Dec. 31.

The force has provided coverage for the borough since 1998. Prior to that, state police handled crime in the borough, and once the contract expires, they will take over once again.

Prior to voting, council members opened 155 surveys that residents turned in.

The surveys allowed residents to check "yes" or "no" boxes regarding the necessity of paying for the police patrols.

Of the 277 taxable properties and 426 per-capita taxpayers in the borough, just under 100 voted "no," to renewing the $16,000-a-year contract; about 45 voted affirmatively.

Council agreed not to count the handful of votes that came in after the Oct. 8 deadline.

Don Trezona, who has lived in the area for more than 25 years, sat quiet and attentive through the entire meeting, standing up only once to move closer to the council table and saying he thought the vote ought to reflect the will of the residents.

But when the vote was over, Trezona openly applauded.

"I've been a very active campaigner (to get rid of the coverage) because we simply don't have the funds," Trezona said at the close of the meeting. "I think we were paying an undue revenue."

Vicky Marstellar said she thought the survey was "skewed," since council didn't give people the correct information before passing out the surveys.

"I think all people should have been sent the survey," she said. "The ballot should have been sent to every voting person. You sent the wrong information to people."

She claimed council misinformed residents about the actual amount of money contracted, hours spent patrolling and disbursement of police to certain coverage areas.

Clark Mayor Douglas Bradley, after learning of the vote, said he understands why council made the decision.

"I'm sorry to hear they're dropping the service," Bradley said. "It's been very beneficial to the borough of Clark, but I understand the financial situation there. I think we've done a good job giving them service and I hate to see them drop it."

Bradley said Fredonia paid the borough about $16,000 a year for Jefferson-Clark Regional police to patrol about 15 to 20 hours a week in addition to responding to calls. He said, however, the loss of that money shouldn't have much of an effect on Clark's bottom line next year.

"Actually if you lose the service, you would adjust the manhours accordingly," Bradley said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Patrecka F. Adams at: padams@sharonherald.com.

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