VIENNA — The township might be welcoming a new trustee to kick off the new year, but it didn’t stop them from inquiring about the police department’s status.

At the end of Monday’s regular meeting, Kim Ellis, a resident set to be sworn in as trustee next month following the Nov. 5 election, checked in on the police department’s needs, such as stun gun batteries, unemployment benefits or side jobs.

Fiscal Officer Heidi Brown said unemployment in the township was current and that nothing was outstanding.

Police Chief Brian Darbey said officers get opportunities for side jobs, offering two officers for a high school game, but the school district went with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office instead.

“If I don’t move my rates up to where other departments are, if I need to borrow a couple of guys or a guy, they’re not going to do work rate,” Darbey said. “We were making $100 a game, so a lot of townships make $160 a game. And that’s where the problem lies with that.”

Trustee Phil Pegg said the township has several reserves and an officer on the drug task force, recalling that Liberty officers mentioned they had an officer on it during their presentation at the Nov. 17 meeting.

“When that occurs, they are not a regular officer that runs the roads; they have their commission through us,” Pegg said.

Pegg and Darbey said the Mahoning Valley Drug Task Force reimburses the officer.

As for the officer wearing a Vienna uniform, Darbey said he’s commissioned, so he can transport for all the police departments in Girard’s court system, including Girard Municipal Court.

Darbey said he didn’t think the township would be held liable if a hypothetical incident occurred where the officer used his gun and was found negligent.

“He’s still a commissioned officer and he’s still doing police work; I mean, he’s been doing it for a while,” Darbey said. “It saves everybody a lot of money because nobody has to pay out; he’s covered under us as a commission.”

Darbey said it would be up to the trustees whether to change the officer’s status.