By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

During the Aug. 6 Upper Macungie supervisors’ meeting, the board presented two proclamations honoring important and long-standing township employees.

They also appointed a permanent director of fire.

The first proclamation honored Edgardo A. Colón, who retired May 22 after serving as the first chief of the township police department for eight years.

Chairman James Brunell read the proclamation and offered “heartfelt and well-deserved gratitude” on behalf of the township to Colón for his service to the community.

Colón served in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent 21 years with the Pennsylvania State Police before coming to Upper Macungie, where Brunell noted he was instrumental in building the police department “from the ground up,” including hiring officers, procuring equipment and establishing the headquarters.

The Upper Macungie Township Police Department began service on Dec. 31, 2012, under Colón’s leadership and received accreditation from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, “which indicates the high standards under which it operates, and a designation achieved by less than 10 percent of all law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth.”

Brunell, joined by fellow Supervisors Kathy Rader and Sean Gill, presented Colón with the proclamation and a commemorative plaque to enthusiastic applause from the audience.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve this community, to represent the citizens of Upper Macungie Township,” Colón said. “It was a wonderful ride from the very beginning …

“I couldn’t be more proud of everybody who touched my life and inspired me to make the decisions that I did.

“It’s been a great positive experience. I lived my adult life serving the government and the public, and now I’m in the private sector, having a good time. Thank you all so much, I appreciate your support.”

The board’s second proclamation and distinguished service award was read in honor of the late Owen M. Bastian Jr., who served as township secretary for 60 years.

Born in Trexlertown and a Navy veteran in World War II, Bastian Jr. became the secretary in 1954.

Reading the proclamation into the record, Brunell noted he served in multiple additional roles as treasurer for the planning commission and zoning hearing board, and also as a member of the board of supervisors from June 1990 until January 1994.

Brunell also noted that outside of his township duties, Bastian was part-owner of Owen M. Bastian Inc. and was involved in many aspects of the community, including as a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Breinigsville and Lehigh Lodge 326.

The board members presented the proclamation and a distinguished service award to Bastian’s youngest daughter, Elaine Kurtz.

“I had the privilege, back in the late 1980s, actually working with my father here as his assistant for several years, so his dedication to the township rubbed off somewhat,” she said, thanking the board for their recognition of her father.

“We are very proud of his service to the township and his commitment to public service. Thank you for the honor. It’s a privilege.”

Finally, during meeting motions, the board voted to appoint Peter Christ as the township’s permanent director of the Bureau of Fire and Emergency Management coordinator effective Aug. 10.

Township Manager Bob Ibach said there was an opening at the director position after the resignation of Grant Grim in May, which Christ had been filling in an interim position.

“I’m not bragging. I don’t want to embarrass Pete but I think he did an exceptional job stepping in, identifying some items that needed change, some items that needed upgrading,” Ibach said, noting Christ’s background, experience, skills and education make him “a perfect choice for the job.”

Ibach said he had spoken to the township’s fire departments, “and the feedback I got from all three chiefs - some of the adjectives used were ‘perfect,’ ‘fantastic,’ ‘awesome,’ ‘great choice,’ from all three.”

Brunell, Rader and Gill unanimously voted to appoint Christ to the permanent position and welcomed him aboard.

“Thank you to the board members,” Christ said after the vote. “It’s an honor and pleasure, and privilege, to serve Upper Macungie Township.”