Exeter to hire 5 police officers

The Exeter Township supervisors voted unanimously Monday to hire five police officers after hearing a detailed report on the department by interim Police Chief Matthew Harley.

The chief said it takes 17 to 24 months to identify, hire and train officers before they are on the street.

The township has 33 officers. Harley said the FBI recommends that a municipality of Exeter’s size have a full-time staff of 96 officers.

The township needs two officers to replace retired day work officers, and three to train to replace deferred retirement option plan officers.

Harley said the department is being overwhelmed with calls.

The hirings are expected to lead to a $106,000 increase in budgetary expenses, not including benefits.

Later in the meeting sparks flew during discussion surrounding a 4-1 vote to prevent Supervisor David Hughes from advertising his website at township meetings.  Hughes displayed an advertisement for the “Exeter United” site on the back of his laptop in full view of the public and cameras.

The motion essentially bans the appearance of logos, website references and other forms of political and social statements during township meetings.

Hughes insisted it was totally legal. He refused to take it down or move his seat so the laptop would be out of public view.

In other business, the supervisors got to look at an environmental and recreation study of the Daniel Boone Homestead.

Pennsylvania Director of Historical Sites and Museums Melissa Mann gave a presentation and answered questions.

Mann said the homestead had 20,000 visitors in 2022, and 17,000 of them were there for recreation.

Plans for the site include installing a 2-mile loop trail accessible to people with disabilities, a reverse traffic flow to ease entry, improved pavilions and visitor center, a new parking area, overflow parking for events and a disc golf course that was requested by residents.

The study was approved by the township and paid for with a grant.

Next steps are the development of a finalized plan to secure funding.

Source: Berkshire mont