The request to release a consultant’s report on the Ross Township Police Department came up again at the Sept. 20 Ross Township Board of Commissioners meeting.
All nine commissioners were in attendance, as were township manager Ronald Borczyk and assistant manager Adam Ravenstahl.
The meeting began with three public comments, all in support of the request to release the report compiled by W.R. Smeal Police Management consultant Ronald Smeal.
W.R. Smeal was hired in January to look at the inner workings of the Ross Police force after a vote of no confidence in police chief Joseph A. Ley by more than two-thirds of the police officers working under him.
Resident Frank Colucci — who gave comment that evening in support of the release — filed a request with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in May 2021, asking for a copy of the consultant’s report after the township denied his request. That request was approved by the Office of Open Records, but the township appealed the decision.
During the Sept. 20 meeting, board president Dan DeMarco said that he had already given a summary of the report during a public meeting “a month ago,” and that the report does not give any “recommendation regarding personnel or disciplinary actions.”
DeMarco added that he had no reason to hide anything because he would not be running for re-election, which garnered a smattering of applause from some members of the public in attendance.
When commissioner Chris Eyster’s motion to release the report came up on the agenda, a second from another board member to allow a vote was not received. Since no member of the board seconded, the motion failed with no vote taking place.
The next step will be a hearing in the Court of Common Pleas. The township’s appeal and Colucci’s request that the court uphold the Department of Open Records decision will be heard, and a ruling will be made.
In Colucci’s filing from Aug. 11 to the court, he points out that W.R. Smeal was also hired by the city of Jenkintown, located near Philadelphia, for the same type of study and that report was released by the Jenkintown Police Department “without objection.”
Other business
Other items on the agenda included a transfer of a liquor license to the BJ’s Wholesale Club opening in the township, a 5 Year Capital Improvement Plan and an amendment to the fireworks ordinance, including the need for a permit to discharge “display” fireworks in township. All items passed with votes of 9-0.
