HUBBARD — City officials are reviewing a request from Hubbard schools for a second school resource officer, but current staffing levels in the police department hinder granting the request.

City council’s safety and finance committees hosted a discussion Monday on the school district’s request.

Safety Director Bill Bancroft said one SRO covers the school’s three buildings, which are located on one campus. He said Hubbard Superintendent Raymond Soloman — at the request of the school board — sent a letter to Mayor Ben Kyle making the request.

Bancroft said the school board would rather invest in a second SRO rather than spend additional money on new security features.

He said the matter will be reviewed because the police department has eight patrolmen in its ranks and to have a second SRO would require hiring an officer to staff that position.

Officials said the school district pays $65,000 for the SRO.

“All options on the table being reviewed,” Bancroft said.

He said a main issue is that Hubbard, like many communities, does not have people applying to be police officers. Bancroft said four applicants took a civil service test and only one qualified.

Bancroft said extra police officers, including part-time, would help the city, but it is challenging even to get part-timers.

Councilman Ryan Hallapy, who sits on the safety committee, said the police department does not have the staffing to provide a second SRO, but Kyle said officials plan to research the request.

“A lot of discussion needs to occur to find the best answer to their request,” Kyle said.

Bancroft said if the police department does not have anyone leave, it should be at full staffing before the end of the year with one chief, five sergeants, one detective sergeant and eight patrol officers.

“We do not have people knocking down our doors to be police officers. This is an issue for many police departments,” he said. “Right now we are short one sergeant and one patrolman.”

Bancroft said before year’s end, there will be two more patrolmen and a current patrolman will be promoted to sergeant.

Kyle said the department works hard to make sure each shift has proper staffing. He said newer officers train with seasoned officers. Bancroft said previously that when the current SRO was sick or on vacation, the city had to pay overtime to send someone else to the schools for coverage.

In other business, Bancroft reported the license plate reader cameras are installed in the city.

“They are very difficult to see even when you know where they are. They are working,” he said.

Bancroft said the speed monitor signs have been turned off and will be back on in August before the new school year starts. He said those monitors let motorists know how fast their vehicle is going by flashing the speed as they approach it.