EMMITSBURG, Md. – Mayor James E. Hoover has asked the town to hire a third deputy from the county sheriff’s office, costing the town $95,000.

However, the board questioned at their June 12 meeting whether crime in town had increased sufficiently to justify the hire.

All of the board agreed that the mayor needs to provide data supporting the request before the commissioners would consider approving the expenditure.

Commissioner William B. O’Neil Jr. said, “I have seen no document on why we need it … without the data I can’t support it.”

According to the town manager, the mayor already had the upcoming contract for two deputies negated, and had requested a new contract for three deputies be drafted, before securing board approval.

O’Neil characterized the mayor’s action as a “violation of appropriations law … the commission is supposed to sign off.”

Haller warned, “There might still be time to reinstate the other one (original two-deputy contract, set to expire June 30) but it could be clumsy. If you don’t have a contract, you may not have any (deputies).”

Board President Christopher V. Staiger said the possibility of having no police protection was the result of the “mayor (getting) ahead of the authorization.”

The board will continue budget work at their June 19 meeting.