The Hellertown Borough Council covered a busy agenda on Tuesday night.\u200b<\/p>\n
Council stressed the critical need to fill civil service board vacancies. The borough currently has three openings on the civil service commission \u2014 two full seats and one alternate.<\/p>\n
Council member Larry O\u2019Donnell added that the planning commission \u2014 which also has two vacancies \u2014 still has enough members for a quorum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re thinking about volunteering or getting more involved, civil service is definitely toward the top of the triage list for volunteers needed within the community,\u201d O\u2019Donnell added.<\/p>\n
Funds Needed for May 16 Heritage Day<\/p>\n
Mayor David Heintzelman announced that the Hellertown Historical Society, Lower Saucon Township Historical Society and Saucon Valley Conservancy are organizing Heritage Day for May 16, running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re putting together a booklet of activities\u2026 This is going to be massive. They\u2019re expecting between 1,000 and 2,000 people,\u201d Heintzelman noted.<\/p>\n
Heintzelman said he has taken on the task of approaching local businesses to raise between $20,000 and $30,000 within 30 days to fund the event, which organizers want to keep free of charge to the community. He said this will be the third year for the event, and the groups hope to make it an annual tradition.\u200b<\/p>\n
Earlier in the meeting, O\u2019Donnell also announced that the Hellertown Historical Society is holding a volunteer open house Saturday morning at 9 a.m.<\/a> at the Grist Mill for anyone interested in getting more involved with the historical society.<\/p>\n Walkability Study Grant Gets Green Light<\/p>\n Council unanimously approved a grant application to the Municipal Assistance Program for a walkability study. The borough-wide study will examine sidewalk infrastructure <\/a>and pedestrian accessibility.<\/p>\n Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft explained that the grant requires a 50\/50 match, but noted the borough already has 25 percent of its match commitment secured. The borough plans to seek additional funding sources to leverage the remaining match.\u200b<\/p>\n Borough Engineer Bryan Smith confirmed the study is an update to a previous walkability assessment completed in the 2010s, with a more specific focus on \u201csidewalks and walkability.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n Public Works Saves Thousands on Sweeper Repair<\/p>\n Public Works Director Barry Yonney noted a big cost-saving effort from his department. The borough\u2019s street sweeper needed a new hopper, and when the crew contacted vendors, they were told it would cost $50,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead, Yonney\u2019s team took a piece of the damaged metal to a local shop, FabTech, and had new panels bent to specification. The public works crew then cut out the damaged section, prepped the area and welded a new piece into place, completing the repair for roughly $1,000.\u200b<\/p>\n Constitution Ave. Church Gets Handicap Spaces Removed<\/p>\n