LaCROFT — Before the Liverpool Township Fire Department can utilize its grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), trustees had to approve one key policy for purchases.

On Monday, trustees approved a purchasing policy pertaining to the fire department’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which FEMA awarded the township $147,300 earlier this month. The grant is used to provide finance assistance to eligible fire departments, non-affiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations and State Fire Training Academies for safety improvements.

The policy approved by trustees state the purchasing will be controlled by department heads up to $500, to which anything exceeding that amount will need trustee approval unless it is needed as an emergency for safety matters.

According to Trustee Chairman Mike Bahen, the policy is similar to what the township utilizes for purchases, but added such a policy in writing had to be presented to FEMA before the grant could be used.

“Part of their new ruling is we have to have in place, because it’s a federal government, we have to have a purchasing policy in writing,” Bahen said.

While discussing the emergency clause of that policy, Police Chief Jayson Jackson asked the board whether or not department heads, such as Jackson, would still need to contact trustees if the emergency repairs cost more than $500.

“Our tires cost more than $500,” Jackson said. “Those are a safety issue and certain things of that nature. Are we still going to be required to get the trustees together?”

Bahen later clarified for Jackson that as long as it is within $1,000, the department heads would not need to first contact trustees.

Previously announced at the Sept. 10 meeting, with funds from the grant, the township looks to purchase 18 new 45-minute air packs to replace the department’s 30-minute air packs, nine new spare masks for all firefighters to use, and 10 sets of turnout gear to fully suit up 10 firefighters.

Bahen said previously with the new equipment and air packs, fire crews will be able to work with more air in a longer time frame as they answer calls.

After trustees signed off on the resolution, Bahen advised Fire Chief Dave Ward that he now has the ability to purchase the equipment.

Also in fire department matters, Ward presented the township fire department’s monthly report for August, in which 14 calls were answered, bringing the total count in 2018, as of Aug. 31, to 100 calls. According to Ward, average dispatch time en route per call was 4 minutes, 23 seconds, with an average of 5.4 firefighters used per call.

Meanwhile, in police department matters, trustees approved a motion to authorize the Liverpool Township Police Department to bill the East Liverpool School District for the use of a school resource officer for the 2018-19 school year. The bill for the reimbursement of services for the year, according to Jackson, is around $18,000.

Trustees also approved a motion to have the police department revert back to regular pay and regular time, retroactive to Sept. 1. The department worked under a temporary contract due to a manpower shortage, but also stated with the recent filling of a vacancy, the contract was considered to be completed.

Jackson also informed the board the department will also be seeking a full-time officer pending the resignation of another officer, which was anticipated to be submitted Tuesday.