Public Safety Committee tables K9 program agreement pending Foundation review

The Ephrata Borough Public Safety Committee on Feb. 9, 2026, tabled consideration of a proposed agreement to establish a K9 program after a representative of the Friends of the Ephrata Police Foundation said the group had not received a final draft for review.

Lieutenant Randolph, representing Ephrata Borough police staff, said he believed there was "an agreement in principle" between the Borough and the foundation, but the foundation disputed that characterization. Steve DeWeese of the Friends of the Ephrata Police Foundation said the foundation "was still awaiting a final version of the agreement from the Borough for review and consideration" and reviewed a proposed timeline for implementing the program that included input from the police department.

Committee Chair Buohl and members heard the timeline and the exchange between police staff and the foundation and decided to table the item until the borough provides a final agreement for the foundation’s review. No formal motion text for approval of the K9 agreement was recorded in the meeting report.

The committee did not set a specific date to revisit the item in the meeting text. The item remains tabled pending submission of a final agreement from Borough staff to the Friends of the Ephrata Police Foundation.