East Syracuse Police Chief Donald Morris has announced his intention to retire from the department after more than six years in the position.

The village of East Syracuse Board of Trustees approved Morris’ retirement effective Dec. 31 at its meeting last week. Morris’ leave-taking will coincide with the police department’s merger with the town of DeWitt police, which goes into effect in the beginning of 2015.

“I truly enjoyed working for the residents and serving the community and working beside all the officers within the department,” Morris said.

Morris joined the East Syracuse police department as chief in October of 2007. His career in law enforcement started in 1984 when he served for the New York City Police Department. In November 1990, he joined the Solvay Police Department and left there in March of 1999 to serve as police chief to the village of Liverpool.

In October 2007, Morris joined the East Syracuse Police Department as chief, where he had to take on crime in the village.

“When I first came here, the village had what they considered to be a gang problem and that was the main priority for me to try to assist in clearing that up. I believe that in the time that I’ve been here I have made the village a safe place to live,” said Morris.

In August 2012, Morris started working as chief for both East Syracuse and Liverpool police departments part-time. After leaving the East Syracuse Police Department, Morris will serve exclusively as Liverpool’s chief.

Over the course of his career, Morris said he has held the titles of officer, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.

“I’d like to thank Chief Morris for the years of service he gave to this community,” Mayor Robert Tackman said. “He will be missed.”

Last April, residents of East Syracuse voted 333 to 199 in favor of abolishing the East Syracuse Police Department and entering into a shared service agreement with the town of DeWitt starting Jan. 1, 2015.

“I’m sure I’m not alone in saying the officers are going to miss being able to work with each other because full-time officers will go to the town and part time officers will be going their separate ways,” Morris said of the merger.

One resident who attended the village board meeting spoke out during the public comment time in regards to the police merger.

“I’m disgusted to see that [the board] is not doing anything in celebration of the many years of service from the East Syracuse Police Department,” she said.

No other comments about the police merger were made at the meeting.

Also at the meeting, the board:

—Adopted a resolution affirming the suspension of Fire Chief Robert Russell pending a hearing to be scheduled in the future. In the resolution, attorney James Hughes was appointed to serve as an independent hearing examiner for the hearing. Tackman said this hearing will not be open to the public.

—Voted unanimously to approve the sale of village-owned water property on Smokey Hollow Road to Arthur Fritz, after first approving a resolution that the parcel of land be considered surplus. Fritz said this parcel of land was near his home property and he was looking to acquire it for some time.

—Voted to approve seven annual service agreements with companies who will service the village office building. Some of these services include Penn Power for the emergency generator maintenance, ABJ Fire Protection Co. for sprinkler tests, Otis Elevator for maintenance and inspections on the elevator, Alarm Services of CNY to monitor and inspect the fire alarm system and Woodcock and Armani for the municipal building heating and cooling maintenance and inspections.

Village Clerk Patricia Derby said the choice of companies to sign contracts with was unchanged from the previous year, but there were a few small increases in annual contract prices.

Trustee James Carr said he believed these contracts should be put out to bid every year, just like any other service the village needs.

The board voted unanimously to sign service contracts for all seven companies.

—Discussed several holiday events that are coming up this month. This includes the Polar Express Movie Night will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. The cost is free but pre-registration is required at 463-6714.

The House Lighting Contest, will be judged at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, and awards will be given to first, second and third place. To register for this contest, call 463-6714.

Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].