Rodriguez Wins Race For West Reading Mayor

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A hotly contested mayor’s race came to an end Tuesday night in West Reading, with independent Valentin Rodriguez Jr. trumping two opponents to earn the seat with 290 votes.

Democrat Peter B. Gustis and Republican Kathleen Frymoyer trailed, with 151 and 150 votes, respectively.

Results were complete but unofficial Tuesday night.

Rodriguez will replace Shane J. Keller, who opted not to seek re-election.

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Panel Upholds Firing Of Ex-West Reading Police Officer

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was quick, to the point, and for many in attendance at the West Reading Fire Department, it didn’t come as much of a surprise.

Following a hearing that began in February and concluded in May, a three-member Civil Service Commission ruled Wednesday night to uphold the borough’s November firing of former police Officer Ronald E. Ladd.

“I think the evidence in its totality convinced us,” commission member Stephen F. DeLucas said afterward of the decision.

DeLucas was referring to testimony and other accounts of the Aug. 31 altercation between Ladd and former police Chief Edward C. Fabriziani, whom Ladd is accused of assaulting in the chief’s office that summer day.

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All West Reading Police Officers Back On Streets

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The West Reading Police Department is back to full force following a firearms certification mix-up that temporarily took six officers off the streets.

Sgt. Keith Phillips, acting officer in charge, confirmed that all of the officers, including himself, had been recertified and returned to regular duty by Friday afternoon.

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Firearms Certification Lapse Puts 6 West Reading Cops On Leave

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  They sure are having one problem after another in the department!

Half of the West Reading Police Department, including the acting officer in charge, was placed on temporary administrative leave Thursday after it was discovered that the firearms certification for a department range instructor had lapsed.

Borough sources confirmed that six officers – five full-time and one part-time – were taken off the streets for the day as department officials worked to resolve the issue.

“Yes, I have officers who I have instructed the officer in charge that I do not want working until their firearms certifications have been updated,” West Reading Mayor Shane J. Keller said. “We have them scheduled (to be recertified) at 8 a.m. (today), so this will be taken care of relatively quickly.”

Keller declined to discuss who was at fault for the error.

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West Reading Fires Police Chief, 2 Others

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  At least there are places in the universe where poor performance and bad behavior aren’t rewarded or tolerated!

After months of turmoil in its troubled police department, West Reading Borough Council voted Wednesday night to fire Police Chief Edward C. Fabriziani, Sgt. Richard Vetter and Officer Ronald E. Ladd.

“We had a rough night, as you can imagine,” Councilman James J. Gallen Jr. said after the vote, which was preceded by a 2½-hour executive session that left some council members teary-eyed.

Fabriziani and Council President Kevin M. Conrad declined to comment on the action, and Ladd and Vetter were not present.

Reached at home following the meeting, Ladd’s wife said that the couple needed a couple of days to deal with things before they would comment.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=428065

Creating Beauty In West Reading, One Tile At A Time

On the sidewalk along Penn Avenue in West Reading, Pam Roule glued down glass tiles under the late morning sun.

“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle,” the borough resident said as she placed the small pieces. “These are the clouds.”

Nearby, Mayor Shane J. Keller cut additional pieces of glass as the occasional West Reading Farmers Market patron stopped, groceries in hand, to view the progress on what eventually will be one of five mosaics on Chestnut Street near West Reading Elementary Center.

“The more you work with it, the more you learn,” said Roule, an artist with a studio on Playground Drive. “And it gets kind of addicting.”

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=422717

 

West Reading Committee Weighs Police Options

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A committee formed by West Reading officials last month is looking into the possibility of consolidating the borough’s police force.

James Gallen Jr., a borough councilman and committee member, said the committee – rounded out by Council President Kevin M. Conrad, Councilwoman Elizabeth Heckler and Mayor Shane J. Keller – will enter into discussions with neighboring municipalities and the state police regarding the future of West Reading’s troubled police department.

“We’re exploring consolidation as a cost-saving measure,” Gallen said, adding that Wyomissing would be “a natural fit.”

The talks will extend to other nearby departments, which could include Shillington, and Cumru and Spring townships, he added.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=420092