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<p>LAFLIN &#8212; Council approved an ordinance Tuesday giving the go-ahead for a study regarding the borough&#8217;s possible participation in a regional police force. Many citizens who attended believed that the four council members who voted &#8220;yes&#8221; had already made up their minds.</p><p>Former councilman Tony D&#8217;Eliseo told council members, &#8220;I&#8217;ve talked to some people and they believe that Laflin is already all in, not just participating in the study.&#8221;</p><p>Councilman Carl Yastremski, the sole &#8220;no&#8221; vote, said he believed Laflin residents could simply not afford the cost of sustaining a regional police department. Since 2014, the borough&#8217;s police protection has been provided by the Pennsylvania State Police at no cost to the borough.</p><p>&#8220;Initially, there would be grants that would minimize costs during the first year,&#8221; Yastremski said. &#8220;But by 2018, the cost of regionalizing would be $216,000, which would mean a significant increase in taxes for our residents.&#8221;</p><p>Council members Lisa Natt, Glen Gubitose, Sandra Falcone and Jamie Andrews disagreed, emphasizing that passage of the ordinance would simply provide opportunity for further study.</p><p>&#8220;If I voted the other way, there would people screaming at me anyway,&#8221; said Natt. &#8220;This is just doing our due diligence.&#8221;</p><p>Scott Seeherman, also a former councilman, pointed to the words &#8220;to join&#8221; in the ordinance.</p><p>Seeherman believes it&#8217;s the intent of council to ultimately become part of a regional force which would include Laflin, Pittston Township, Jenkins Township and Dupont.</p><p>Tuesday&#8217;s debate has its roots in Laflin&#8217;s recent history. In 2014, council members dissolved their police department over the strong objections of Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo.</p><p>Yazurlo concluded her opening remarks Tuesday with reference to councilwoman Jamie Andrews&#8217; call to the State Police when several juveniles allegedly started a small fire at the baseball field near her home.</p><p>Andrews said State Police were unable to respond to her call.</p><p>Yazurlo emphasized that a regional force would be better able to respond to such matters.</p><p>Resident Chris Kopko noted &#8220;in the last two years before our police force was disbanded, 60 to 70 percent of our calls were being answered by the State Police anyway.&#8221;</p><p>Borough solicitor Steven Menn said passage of the ordinance didn&#8217;t indicate a commitment by the borough and was simply an opportunity for council&#8217;s consideration of a regional force.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_SD_SMG-Talent-Show_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Yazurlo </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_SD_SMG-Talent-Show_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Yazurlo </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_laflin.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Council member Carl Yastremski, to the far left, explains to council Tuesday why he voted against a study regarding police regionalization. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_laflin.jpg</photo1><caption1>Council member Carl Yastremski, to the far left, explains to council Tuesday why he voted against a study regarding police regionalization. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @tlnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Laflin votes to study police regionalization