Published: July 03, 2008 11:21 pm      

Defunct police deal sparks Shade lawsuit

CAIRNBROOK – Shade Township supervisors are suing Conemaugh Township, claiming breach of contract stemming from the one-year police service agreement that ended in March.

Shade supervisors on Thursday authorized Solicitor Scott Bittner to file the lawsuit, which seeks $18,680 for two police vehicles.

When Shade’s police force merged with the Conemaugh department, it turned over two vehicles to Conemaugh.

Under the agreement, Conemaugh would pay for the vehicles if the police deal ended, Shade Supervisor Chairman John Topka said.

“We’ve asked them a number of times to pay the amount and they refused,” Topka said. “We can’t let it go. We have to go after the township’s money.”

The township is seeking $16,780 for a 2005 Dodge Durango and $1,900 for a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria.

Conemaugh officials say the vehicles are overvalued.

“We don’t think they’re worth that much, not even close,” supervisor Chairman Steven Buncich said.

Buncich said the board offered to return the vehicles or sell them and give Shade the money.

“We thought it was a reasonable deal,” he said. “Apparently, they didn’t.”

The vehicles were advertised for sale in Thursday’s Tribune-Democrat.

Conemaugh supervisors voted in March to end its police agreement with Shade as too costly. Conemaugh eliminated 10 part-time police jobs recently to save money.