Some Coplay Borough employees may be trading cellphones for access to portable handheld radios.

At council's workshop Tuesday, Mayor Joseph Bundra said he would like the borough to purchase three two-way radios for the public works crew.

In response to a question from Councilman Charles Sodl, he said the radios would cost about $1,200.

Sodl said he agreed but wanted to know where the money would come from to pay for them.

"Here's my problem," Sodl said. "We have radios in vehicles that we had to have and we have cellphones. Now we need handheld radios. That's three devices to communicate. Somebody convince me we need three devices."

Bundra said cellphones may not work in an emergency.

"So why do we have them at $32 a person [per month]?" asked Sodl.

"I am convinced we don't need all the cellphones," said Sodl. "I'll go along with the handheld if we get rid of three or four of the cellphones."

"If we get rid of some of the cellphones, in one year we could pay for the radios," said Bodish.

The borough would save more than $300 a year for each cellphone canceled.

"Forgive me because I completely overlooked the cellphones," Bundra said.

Sodl said he discussed the issue with public works Director Paul Boyle who agreed phones for all public works crew members aren't necessary.