FACTORYVILLE — In an effort to improve safety and crack down on vandalism, borough council members approved the purchase of a new security system during a regular meeting Wednesday, Aug. 10.

The system, which includes three cameras, an internet DVR, router and monitor, was purchased for $2,636 from Transcendent Digital Media. Once set up, the borough will have the ability to install 13 additional cameras within a four-mile radius.

According to mayor Gary Evans, police officers will be able to view the cameras remotely on their cell phones without having to do a drive through.

“It will help in the surveillance of our town and really help our police force fine tune where they need to be,” Evans said. “This is the first phase of the project. We’ll be using cameras in all public areas of the borough in the future. We have some problems, nothing major, and we don’t want them happening in our borough.”

Evans added the equipment has been ordered and should be installed within the next two weeks.

Council Vice President Bill Edwards believes the cameras will be a big asset to the borough.

“We’ve invested a lot in our town,” Edwards said. “This is a small price to pay.”

During the grants update, borough manager Mary Ellen Buckbee reported Factoryville is actively pursing funding to extend the Countryside Conservancy Trolley Trail into the borough at Riverside Drive.

Members of borough council approved a motion to authorize the annual Winter Maintenance Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

According to Buckbee, the borough is reimbursed for plowing, salting, and cindering the state roads in Factoryville.

Members of borough council approved the resignation of council member Veronica Geerts, who stepped down due to health reasons.

According to borough solicitor Paul Litwin, council members have 30 days to fill the vacancy. If it’s not filled during that time, the vacancy board would have an additional 15 days.

Councilman David Truitt announced during the Parks and Recreation report that the trail at Christy Mathewson Park has been completed.

The borough received a $4,040 Marcellus Shale Legacy Grant, through Wyoming County, last year to aid in the construction of a trail connecting the play pockets in the park.

Truitt has also been in discussions with Dalton councilman Jared Gard regarding the potential contracting of part-time maintenance help.

“We’ve come up with an idea for next summer to continue the relationship of cooperation between the Dalton and Factoryville boroughs by contracting two members of their Public Works Department to us for 16 hours a week, part-time, during the summer months for a nominal service fee,” Truitt said. “They have a supervisor in place who would be able to manage projects that need to be done in our parks and other areas. It would be a long-term solution and would continue a good relationship.”

Gard planned to continue the discussion during the next Dalton Borough council meeting.

Members of Factoryville Borough Council will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at borough hall, 161 College Ave.

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By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.