Newly formed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Commission to begin meeting

The newly formed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Commission will meet Tuesday for the first time since elected officials in Cheswick and Springdale Township approved merging the communities’ police departments.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Springdale Township municipal building, 100 Plate Dr.

The four-member commission is made up of Cheswick Council members Michael Girardi and Kathy Gillard, Springdale Township Commissioner Shirley Redman and township resident Rick Schwartz.

Girardi said the first part of Tuesday’s meeting will be organizational in nature, including selecting a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer for the commission.

The second part of the meeting will dive into issues such as bookkeeping and accounting items, pensions, a logo for the new department’s uniforms and cars and who will be chief.

“We’re going in with a lot of enthusiasm and support,” Girardi said. “There’s work that needs to be done to get us to that point of being operational.”

Officials are aiming for a July 1 start date. The commission will meet on an as-needed basis until everything is finalized. Once the department is up and running, the commission likely will meet monthly, Girardi said.

Girardi encouraged the public to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’ll be an opportunity to voice thoughts and concerns,” he said. “Community involvement is always appreciated.”

Officials have said the new force will cost both communities less. It will have a $500,000 budget. The borough and township had been spending a combined $672,000 on their respective forces.

Girardi said the commission also will consider several grant opportunities to help fund the department and ways it can work with the county and state to ensure a seamless transition.