At a Hellertown Borough Council meeting Monday, residents stepped up to the podium to address ongoing safety issues, from speeding on residential streets to dangerous sidewalk conditions that reportedly resulted in at least one recent injury.
Traffic Safety
Resident Jeff Frankenfield returned to council, seeking action on speeding and stop sign enforcement at the intersection of Riegel Street and Wagner Avenue. Frankenfield was following up on concerns he shared at a previous council meeting.
“I just want to know who I’m dealing with here because I’m getting the runaround, been running around here since 2022 when the initial complaint was filed about this, and nothing was done,” Frankenfield told council.
Police Chief James Baitinger explained that based on a 10-year analysis, the intersection of the two side streets doesn’t meet the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s warrants for additional stop signs. Over that period, the specific area had only 14 accidents total, including the Wagner and Main Street intersection.
The intersection of Wagner Avenue and Riegel Street in Hellertown.
Council noted that a traffic study–which is necessary to see if the intersection is even eligible for a stop sign–could cost up to $20,000.
Council President Thomas Rieger suggested an interim solution: installing “children at play” signs–which do not require traffic studies–and exploring speed monitoring technology.
Council also addressed concerns about traffic on Oak Street between Division Street and Hampton Avenue, where residents reported vehicles frequently traveling in the wrong direction. Chief Baitinger said the department would survey the area and install appropriate one-way signage.
Sidewalk Safety
Resident Chip Wagner delivered an emotional statement about his wife’s recent fall on a raised sidewalk slab at a local business, which he said resulted in a split toenail, back injury and potential whiplash.
Wagner has been advocating for comprehensive sidewalk ordinance enforcement since August 2024, when he submitted a letter with photographs documenting what he described as numerous hazardous walkways throughout the borough. He expressed frustration with what he characterized as a lack of communication and follow-through from borough staff.
“For the past year, the borough has been very unresponsive,” Wagner said.
Wagner said he met with borough staff and some council members in August, and agreed to help develop a sidewalk inventory spreadsheet and assist with a walk-through. “I offered because I was told manpower was limited,” he added.
“After that meeting, communication stopped…I was cut out of the process even though I volunteered my time as agreed upon. Even though one of the team members specifically requested that all correspondence be addressed to everyone, my emails went unanswered until I chased them again a week or more later. That silence sends a message that resident participation isn’t really wanted, no matter what’s said publicly,” Wagner said.
A crumbling section of sidewalk on a Hellertown street.
Borough manager Cathy Hartranft said, “We’ve asked the engineering firm who is actually looking into the sidewalk wells as well as the bridging, and that I indicated to you in my e-mail. So, we might not be on the phone with each other every day, but we are certainly moving forward in trying to accomplish this goal.”
After extensive discussion, council unanimously approved a motion directing staff to send educational emails to all property owners about sidewalk maintenance requirements, with additional communications to follow through social media and potentially a community newsletter.
“My wife’s fall isn’t just an accident; it’s a warning. Let’s act before the next one becomes something worse,” Wagner added.
“I think a good first step is: here’s an email,” said councilman Larry O’Donnell. “Second step is you got our email, hopefully. Then we send letters to a narrower and narrower net. I think that’s logical. We educate the community first.”
Mayor Announces Parade Retirement After 35 Years
In an emotional announcement, Mayor David Heintzelman revealed he is stepping down as chair of the annual Hellertown Halloween Parade after 35 years of organizing the event.
“I have always dreamed of starting the parade in a special way and by having our Saucon Valley band play the national anthem alongside of the American Legion of our community, dignitaries, this is a dream come true for me,” Heintzelman said of this year’s parade, which was held Sunday, Oct. 19.
The mayor said this year’s parade was the largest ever, with participants parking on grass areas, at the Saucon Valley School District administration building and even in the middle school lot. The event was marred by an accident that occurred when a vehicle drove through barricades, though Heintzelman said the crash “had nothing to do with us in running this parade.”
Heintzelman said two new volunteers are potentially interested in taking over parade coordination, with a new committee chair to be announced at a later date.
He also addressed what he said were allegations that circulated on social media regarding parking enforcement on Magnolia Road, calling them “entirely false.”
“I was not made aware of this or such directive, nor did I have any involvement in this matter,” Heintzelman said. “Accusations of this nature are not only baseless, but also amount to character assassination.”
The mayor said he plans to spend more time with his family after stepping down from the role of parade chairman.
Rieger praised Heintzelman’s decades of service and expressed appreciation for his work coordinating the annual event.
Ongoing Public Safety Concerns
Chief Baitinger provided updates on the ongoing investigation into vehicle windshield vandalism throughout the borough. Multiple vehicles have sustained damage in recent weeks, with repair costs exceeding thousands of dollars community-wide.
“This is something that’s very bothersome to me,” Baitinger said. “We are out there working. We are trying, but it is so random.”
The chief said many Ring doorbell cameras and security systems aren’t capturing useful footage because residents have sensitivity settings adjusted to avoid constant notifications. He encouraged residents to be observant and report any suspicious activity to police.
Borough Hires Finance Manager
Council unanimously approved hiring Lisa Carl as the borough’s new finance manager, contingent upon successful completion of job clearances. Carl will begin on a part-time basis in the coming weeks before transitioning to full-time following a commitment period with her current employer.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall.