Whitehall council last night directed solicitor Irving Firman to determine the legality of an inspection program initiated this week by Columbia Gas Company. He will contact PUC officials for details about such inspections.

Columbia has hired Trace Services, a Pittsburgh-based company that provides customer service work for utility companies, to perform random in-home safety inspections of their customers' gas lines. The employees, who wear identification badges, will seek permission to enter the homes.

Police Chief Don Dolfi said residents are no obligated to let the inspectors into their homes. The inspections will be expanded throughout the borough next week.

Columbia Gas officials told Chief Dolfi that they are mandated to conduct the inspections, but he criticized the company for not alerting the police department or borough officials about the program.

"We received a flurry of phone calls about this from local residents, and then we contacted both Columbia and Trace officials," the chief said. He said he suspected the inspections were intended to help prevent any catastrophic incidents.

The chief said if residents have any doubts about the inspectors, they should contact the police department.

Council President Phil Lahr said the borough should insist upon receiving proper notification from a utility company before any inspections are started.