The Linden City Council approved its part of a matching grant for the Linden Police Department to purchase seven bulletproof vests. That action was taken at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

The vests cost about $450 each, but the police department received a $1,500 matching grant to go towards buying new vests. Council member Mike Carlisle made the motion to provide the other part of the matching grant, and the motion passed 4-0.

“It’s part of the BPV (bulletproof vest) program,” said Linden police chief Scott McClure. “Every department in the state fills it out, and some get it, some don’t. Most of them get it. It’s a 50-50 matching grant. I put in for seven vests. It’s $450 for a vest or $4,000 for a funeral.”

“My oldest son is a police officer, and has been for several years now,” Carlisle said. “I promote wearing them.”

“We’ve got a policy that says a guy is supposed to wear them,” McClure said. “If the vest is there, we’ve done our part.”

Other actions taken at the Linden City Council meeting included:

Council member Richard Lankster spoke for the Concerned Citizens Committee regarding complaints about the collection of stray dogs by dog catcher Bobby Custard.

“I had an incident concerning my auntie, Juanita Farris, who lives out there in front of First Baptist Church,” Lankster said. “Her dog got out of the pen, and (Custard) happened to see the dog in the yard, and he came up and asked her if she wanted him to help her catch the dog, and he helped her catch the dog, and he put the dog in the truck and put the dog in the pound instead of putting it back in the pen.”

City administrator Cheryl Hall outlined the dog ordinances for the City of Linden, which states that dogs must be chained or in a fenced-in area.

Linden police chief Scott McClure said that the matter would be resolved in the next week to 10 days, and that his department would try to work things out.

City administrator Cheryl Hall said that sales tax revenue was comparable to last year’s amount at this time. The tax revenue for November 2008 was $41,976, compared to Last year’s revenues of $41,480.

She added that business licenses would be going out in January, and that would bolster revenues for the city.

Last year, revenues totaled $40,394 for December 2007, then jumped to $53,562 for January 2008.

Hall also mentioned that Advance Disposal will change its route for the holiday week by one day for the Thursday and Friday routes.

Everyone present had good things to say about Linden’s inaugural ChillyFest. Linden mayor Mitzi Gates thanked everyone involved in the festival, including the merchants, who Gates mentioned paid for the fireworks display.

Gates mentioned that festival T-shirts were still available in limited supply. Those wanting to buy a T-shirt can purchase them at City Hall.

The next regularly scheduled Linden City Council meeting will be on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at Linden City Hall.