Harrison pauses on plan for police chief to retire, be rehired

The Harrison commissioners Monday voted to table a measure that called for police Chief Michael Klein to retire then return on a limited basis three days later.

According to the proposal, Klein would retire on Oct. 28 (a Friday), then return to his post at a salary of $85,978 annually for a maximum of 32 hours per week starting on Oct. 31 (a Monday).

Township Manager John Pallone called it a smart move economically and administratively.

“He’d be paid 20% less, but he’d have the same responsibility,” Pallone said.

Klein currently is paid about $107,500.

The contract comes with no pre-set length. Klein would be an at-will employee.

According to the township website, there are 12 full-time officers in the department, including four sergeants.

Resident Frances Brown was in the audience and suggested a public meeting should be held to get more details of the arrangement before commissioners voted.

Commissioners President Gary Meanor thought the issue should be discussed among his board members. A suggestion was made to go into executive session, and Klein said the proposed action was “about moving forward and not about what happened in the past” and to “hash this out right now.”

Klein has been with the department for 38 years, the past 28 as chief. In 2019, he tangled with commissioners over a proposed retirement package.

Commissioner Jamie Nee said she only received the meeting agenda late Friday afternoon and wanted to understand the situation and “dig into the details. I just need to be educated on this matter,” Nee said.

Voting to table the measure were Meanor, Nee and Chuck Dizard.

Dizard echoed Nee’s sentiments that the agenda for the Monday board meeting was delivered too late to allow the board sufficient time to understand the proposal.

“More time was needed for the board and residents to understand the issues,” he said.

If approved, Pallone said the township would save about $5,000 a year on Klein’s retiree health care contribution, and his pension would freeze on Oct. 28 at the current level.

He also said it would mean retaining Klein’s expertise while allowing township administration to craft a long-term plan.

“There would be no interruptions, no learning curve with someone new,” Pallone said. “It gives us time to prepare for eventually looking for new chief.”

Township commissioners Eric Bengel and James Erb voted against holding off a decision on the matter .

“I voted with the recommendations of the manager (Pallone),” Erb said.

He said the specifics will be hashed out during a special executive session to be scheduled in the coming weeks. Such meetings of the commissioners are closed to the public.

“There were questions raised, so we’ll see how things go in the executive meeting,” he said.

Bengel said he voted to move forward with the agreement because “Chief Klein has dedicated his life to our township.

“The item was on the agenda to provide for him to continue to help the township with his knowledge and experience.”

Klein left the meeting after the vote to table.