The Nov. 21 meeting of the Macungie Borough Council began with a discussion about the borough’s insurance policy. Community member Tom Bailey of Bailey Insurance provided a proposal for Selective Insurance which would save council $5,000 compared to its current insurance.

Selective Insurance would cover property, auto, liability and umbrella insurance for the borough council.

Macungie Mayor Gary Cordner talked about Macungie’s annual tree lighting ceremony, occurring 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Flower Park. Cordner explained the borough got a new artificial tree this year. He also said there will be entertainment, hot chocolate and refreshments available at the tree lighting. The group lighting the tree has yet to be announced.

Council next discussed hiring two new police officers - Alex Smith and Kyle Fischer.

The borough wanted to hire additional officers because a number of the full-time officers had accumulated vacation time being used around the holidays and the borough was having trouble filling shifts. Also, the police department is considering having two officers on duty at all times if possible in 2017 due to recent occurrences of violence against police officers throughout the country. The council decided unanimously to hire both of the officers.

Next on the agenda was Stone Hill Meadows, a proposed project for 44 single family lots off Spring Street, which requested borough sewage service. Council decided unanimously to draft a letter to Stone Hill Meadows stating there is capacity for them to be connected to the sewer service.

The preliminary budget discussion started with the police force. Council noted the hiring of a second 30-hour officer. The rest of their money from the police chief’s wages in the budget was split between overtime and part-time work. The police force also had their uniforms budget adjusted.

Council President Chris Becker felt the budget for street repair should be cut from $100,000 to $90,000 because council decided to allocate $90,000 for street repair for each year.

Council member John Yerman agreed with Becker, especially since the borough had not spent all the funds allocated to street repair in 2016.

“When we start spending what we are budgeting then we’ll discuss raising the budget,” Yerman said.

The borough was slightly over $7,000 under budget and could be as much as $10,000 under budget with future adjustments.

Borough council also debated the fate of a truck maintenance workers wanted to keep, primarily for the transportation of brine. The reason council wants to eliminate the truck is the cost of maintenance.

Council recommended eliminating the truck and buying liners for the other trucks.

The preliminary budget passed unanimously.

Council discussed an issue brought forward by Trufpro Landscaping Company. Turfpro was purchasing its water from the borough when the automatic shutoff on the water tank broke causing a leak.

A new meter the borough is using can measure the water flow per hour and it was calculated the lead was roughly 19,000 gallons of water. Council decided to waive the sewer fees for the 19,000 gallons of water contingent on a waiver from Lehigh County Authority.

The next borough council meeting will be Dec. 5. Macungie Borough Council meets 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month in council chambers at borough hall, 21 Locust St., Macungie.