HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — The Friends of the Hubbard Township Police group say they want township trustees to work with them in keeping the police department and not switching to the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office for protection.

The committee met Sunday at Pizza Joe’s to look at ways to help raise the money to keep the department, which has limited funding.

Trustee Chairman Thomas Jacobs was invited to Sunday’s committee meeting and has said trustees will review the committee members’ ideas.

Township trustees met in a 90-minute executive session Friday as they continue negotiations with the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 85, which represents eight full-time police officers. The contract expired Dec. 31, with officers working under conditions of a contract extension.

Committee members attended the executive session, but neither trustees nor the public made comments.

Trustee Rick Hernandez said the township’s legal counsel is meeting with the police union representative.

“Things are quite uneasy at this point in the police fund,” Hernandez said. There is $23,000 in the fund, he said.

“Our goal is to help the trustees, but I think they have already decided what direction they want to go. We want them to work with us,” Don Newell, a committee member, said.

Diana Edwards, committee member, said the group will have money to help should anyone in the department be laid off.

Molly Grilli, committee member, said in addition to bracelets and decals for sale, there will be a table with information and fundraising 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at the New Manhattan, 7262 Hubbard Masury Road.

“If they take some of our suggestions, we will be able to keep our police department,” committee member Bill Coletta said.

One way to save money is to not rehire the police chief or the police department secretary, saving more than $138,000, he said. Coletta said two police officers’ salaries equal the secretary’s pay.

“Non-essential people should be let go first before the police force. They could save funds in the police department,” he said.

Police Chief Todd Coonce has said he will retire at end of the year.

Coletta said when police respond to incidents on Interstate 80 supporting emergency personnel, they should bill for that, which they currently do not. He said the fire department currently does bill.

Coletta said the township has paid off loans, including for a dump truck, and questioned why it paid ahead on them instead of using money to help police.

The committee said other savings would include suspension of unused cellphones at $1,128, elimination of Hubbard Township website coordinator at $2,140 and grievances removed pending new leadership, $50,000.

He said despite what others have said “the silent majority in the community is for the township police to stay,” with more than 350 signs of support in yards in the community.

Mike Begeot, a police officer since 1977, said as a taxpayer, he does not want more money going to the sheriff’s department.

“I want my tax dollars to stay here in Hubbard Township for police,” he said, noting property taxes already go to the sheriff’s department.

Begeot said the police officers have had to take a 20 percent pay cut and an 11 percent increase in benefits and health insurance contributions are being proposed.

“I have not seen any figures of what the savings will be to go with the sheriff’s department,” Grilly said.

Hernandez said if the township goes with sheriff’s department, there would be a savings of $200,000 because the sheriff would utilize its own vehicles, weapons and equipment, and K-9 drug enforcement. Also, 911 would also be involved, but the township not have to pay for it.

“We would have dedicated service to the township,” he said

Begeot questioned where the township will get the money for the sheriff’s office if it can’t afford the police department. He said police departments aren’t revenue-generating organizations.

“If we write tickets, we get nickels and dimes back, with most going to the courts and the state of Ohio,” he said.