YEAGERTOWN - Several new faces were welcomed by veteran board members at the Mifflin County Regional Police Board of Directors reorganizational meeting held Thursday evening in Yeagertown.

Nelson Rieffannacht was replaced by Frank Berrier as the Lewistown Borough representative, John Snyder was replaced by Marlin Boaz as the Bratton Township representative and Mark Steele was replaced by Larry Wise as the Burnham Borough representative.

With the addition of Berrier, Boaz and Wise, only four of the current members served on the board of directors in both 2008 and 2009 - volatile years for the department during which former chief of police William Herkert was fired, budget concerns led to layoffs for several officers, and one of seven participating municipalities opted to leave the department when its contract expires.

Also during the meeting, the following members were appointed to various positions: John McCullough, Derry Township representative, was appointed board chairman; Eugene Glick, Brown Township representative, was appointed vice chairman; Berrier was appointed secretary; and Rick Dailey, Union Township representative, was appointed treasurer.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, the board entertained questions from local resident Mary Mann, who had concerns regarding the board's progress in hiring a new chief of police.

McCullough said with Lewistown Borough pulling out of MCRPD at the end of 2010, the board has postponed its search but will, at some point in the future, revisit hiring a new chief. Detective Scott Mauery is serving as the department's officer-in-charge, replacing former officer-in-charge Sgt. Michael Moyle, who recently retired.

The board regularly meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at MCRPD headquarters in Yeagertown.