The recent power outage caused by Hurricane Sandy prompted discussion about whether the Coplay municipal building needs an emergency generator.

"Last week with the storm the police department was very busy," said police Chief Vincent Genovese during his report at the Nov. 5 workshop meeting. "In addition to our normal calls, [the police] had a lot of the storm calls."

Approximately half the borough was without power from 11 p.m. Oct. 29 until about 8:45 p.m. the following day, he said. A handful of houses in the borough remained in the dark for a longer period.

"When the power went down, we lost power in the borough building," said Genovese. "Emergency operations, public works, the borough office and the police department basically came to a halt."

Officials borrowed a generator Oct. 30 from the emergency management department, he said.

"We ran some extension cords into the police department," said Genovese. This allowed the police to run some computers and a few portable lights. "The problem with the generator was [that] we had to put gas in it every hour and a half, so our computers were going down and then back up. We had no communication with the [patrol] cars."

Genovese asked council to consider the purchase of a generator capable of running the municipal offices. Without one, the borough will continue to be unable to function properly during storms such as Hurricane Sandy and last year's October snowstorm. He said he and public works Director Dan Pavelko would be glad to research options and the costs.

"I agree with you, chief," said Councilman Matt Recker. "I haven't been on council not even a year, but I was under the impression we would have a backup generator in borough hall. Yes, I do believe we need a generator, this is where we function."

"I do believe we need some type of generator here," agreed Council President Lou Bodish. "Unfortunately at this time we have to look at financing. We definitely talked about this, and it is something that would have to be addressed."