Borough Council met for a brief meeting March 16 to discuss continuing agenda items and a few new items as well. All council members were present but the borough manager was not.

For voting items, council had little on the agenda.

A letter from Rita's Italian Ice to the fire department was presented with a request for the volunteer fire police presence March 20, when the quick service dessert dispensary anticipates upwards of 2,100 hungry customers for its annual free-ice day. Fire Chief Michael Natysyn said he would send some people down.

A request from Sgt. Travis Kocher, Macungie Police Department, was honored for 78 hours of vacation time to be paid out. Kocher and another officer have each accumulated enough vacation time from last year and the current year to take them off the weekly schedule for several months. This puts Police Chief Ed Harry in a difficult position, according to Mayor Gary Cordner. Kocher offered to take 78 hours paid out as an alternative to the time off, something not covered in the borough's contract.

Cordner recommended approval on this action as it would ultimately save the necessity of paying another officer overtime to cover the hours, and therefore to the borough's advantage.

Council approved the motion made by David Boyko without reserve or dissent.

In addition, council approved the fifth annual "Hey I Know You 5K Race" to be held July 18, 2015.

Unfinished business remains unfinished for several agenda items as the borough awaits information or funding from outside sources.

The borough solicitor is working on right-of-way and temporary construction easements for Cotton Street, with respect to those properties affected by upcoming road work.

The traffic light planned for Church Street is awaiting final approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The situation is further complicated by the necessity of involving crosswalks as part of the traffic light construction scheme and the railroad crossings.

The memorandum of understanding listed on the week's agenda is for adoption without the need of an ordinance but Council President Becker suggested leaving it until the next meeting as the borough solicitor had not yet reviewed it.

Also in April will be review of another memorandum of understanding between Macungie and other boroughs with respect to their police departments. Cordner reported all parties are satisfied and in agreement with the memorandum and an ordinance will be prepared for adoption for the first April meeting.

In a brief report, council member Roseann Schleicher said she, John Yerman and Greg Hutchison had been in touch with Public Works Supervisor Tracy Smith about making an assessment of borough streets slated for repair in the 10-year plan. The intention is to rank streets by state of repair and prioritize what needs to be done and when. Becker restated his priority of getting street conditions in the borough under control.

Natysyn was present at the council meeting with a few items of note for council, following up on the fire of March 13. Council members were effuse in their thanks and commendation for both the Macungie Fire Department and their counterparts in the surrounding communities coming to the borough's aid. Natysyn reported six fire crews were present, some coming from as far as Whitehall Township and 40 firefighters.

The fire chief also noted the helpfulness of the borough police department and the remarkably few minutes between dispatching to the scene and water flowing from the trucks.

Council member Greg Hutchison and others suggested letters of commendation and thanks be sent to the involved parties and to the neighbors of the affected building.