HONESDALE, PA — Mayor Sarah Canfield announced at the May 14 Honesdale Borough Council meeting that May 15 to 22 is National Police Week and May 15 is National Peace Officers Day. In honor of both, Canfield extended a formal thank-you to Lieutenant Robert Langman, representing the Honesdale Borough Police Department. More recognition will follow. On Saturday, May 19, a police memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. in Central Park.

The ceremony comes in the middle of Greater Honesdale Partnership’s Discover Honesdale festivities (see page 21). With celebratory activities scheduled for the whole family, from a Pocono Express train excursion to free tours of the old stone jail, the solemn salute to officers who dedicated their lives to the protection of all who live, work, play, or stay in the Honesdale area is a timely and fitting tribute.

Canfield also shared the good news that part-time borough Detective Richard Fuschino began service as a fulltime officer on April 13, the first new fulltime officer to be hired in years.

The council moved on to other business, specifically that of the council’s use of social media to connect with the public. James Jennings introduced the idea of opening an Instagram account, only to be informed by secretary-manager Judy Poltanis that borough insurance providers have set parameters for social-media use. It can be done though. The police department has a Facebook page on which it posts photos of suspects it hopes the public can help identify and locate. And, although it’s rather bare bones as Facebook pages go, it provides quick access to the department for those incapable of, or uncomfortable with, old-fashioned telephone and face-to-face contact. Jennings was daunted by the volume of paperwork associated with the requisite insurance application and seemed inclined to rethink his suggestion.

A little later in the meeting, he suggested the borough put an unused property in its possession to temporary use as a small park, saying it would at least serve the borough that’s liable for its property tax. But he was informed by borough solicitor Rich Henry that there would be additional expense if it were designated a park. Insurance, maintenance costs, and installation of park amenities would far exceed the negligible property tax. Augello applauded his civic spirit and acknowledged the increasing importance of borough parks and green spaces as it was announced that five new picnic tables will be installed in Central Park, two of them disability accessible.