DURYEA — The borough council accepted the resignations of two full-time Duryea Police Department officers during its Aug. 8 meeting.

George Brazdzionis and Patrick J. Zippittelli both submitted their resignations prior to the meeting and have taken positions with a department in Saline, Kansas. Duryea Mayor Keith Moss said Zippittelli wanted to move out of the area, but Brazdzionis wanted to stay. The patrolman was looking for a house in Duryea before accepting a position elsewhere due to the department’s health insurance policy.

“Duryea Borough doesn’t give insurance to the family, only the officer,” Moss said. “They have to pay for part of their insurance, also.”

Moss said he isn’t sure if the borough is financially prepared to offer coverage to officers and their families, but it may be something to consider.

Related Video

“I’d love to see it but I don’t know if the borough can do that,” Moss said. “We did it for years in Duryea and it really put a strain on the borough,” Moss said. “But that’s probably the only way we’re going to keep some of the full-time police officers, if we offer them and their family insurance.”

Moss said he plans to ask the council to hire at least one full-time officer, as well as a number of part-timers.

During the meeting, the council members also voted to approve a new three-year contract between the borough and its police force.

New numbers

A motion was passed that allows Luzerne 911 to assign new numbers to Center Street addresses from the Old Forge legal line to York Avenue. Changes are being made because addresses on Center Street and Marcy Avenue cause problems for emergency response personnel and their GPS equipment. Foote Street will also be renamed to avoid confusion with Foote Avenue.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Duryea-Boro-2.jpg
Council votes to assign new addresses to Center Street homes

By Gene Axton

gaxton@timesleader.com

Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @GeneAxtonTL