Many municipalities have a motto - Philadelphia, “Let brotherly love endure”; Washington, D.C., “Justice for all”; Coplay Borough, “An opportunity community.”

Bath Borough’s motto is “History, nestled with friendship.” Council exemplified the motto at its Sept. 16 council meeting.

The workshop meeting was held 6-7 p.m. with a focus on developing a list of priorities for 2021 and discussing next year’s budget.

“This is the largest proposed budget in years,” noted council President Mark Saginario.

He told the council members they need to be prepared to discuss their department assignments’ requests. Though they may disagree about budget numbers, Saginario said, council can work together to assemble a balanced budget.

“At the end of the process, we are all friends,” Saginario said.

At the workshop meeting, a list of five priorities was generated. They are road infrastructure improvements, dumpster access, community economic development, public works and park improvements and rental inspection.

Councilman Frank Hesch reported he has had increasing involvement with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association. The watershed group wants to live-stake trees by the creek in Bath to control erosion. When the project begins, volunteers will be needed to assist.

Live-staking is the placement of live plant branch cuts in bare, exposed banks lacking a tree or brush root system to hold the stream bank in place. Absent the root system, the stream bank is susceptible to erosion. Another benefit from successful live-staking is creating habitats for fish and other animal life to reside.

Hesch was appointed by council to be the borough’s liaison to the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association.

“The Monocacy Creek is an asset to the borough,” council member Carol Bear-Heckman said. “The stream is one of the reasons Bath was founded in 1737. So we should give it respect and love.”

In other business, a resident complained her neighbor cuts his lawn at odd hours - sometimes as early as 2 a.m. - and rides an all-terrain vehicle on his property after midnight. She asked for relief.

Saginario noted there is no noise ordinance in Bath. Borough Solicitor Blake Marles reported this behavior is disturbing the peace.

Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito asked the resident to call the police.

“Whenever this occurs, no matter what time, call the police,” she said.

In a discussion regarding an escrow account involving the Park Terrace Homeowners Association, no resolution was completed. The issue asks who the roughly $4,000 belongs to - the homeowners, the developer or the borough.

The arrangement was put in place in the early 1990s by the developer to assist with road repairs in the private development. A meeting to plan the disposal of the escrow account is forthcoming. No date was set.

In the personnel, finance and administration committee report, it was noted parking permits for people who work in the borough may be allowed. Tags indicating a parking permit could be purchased by business owners for their employees to use when they are working. The tag cost was not announced.

In Hesch’s Nazareth Area Council of Governments report, he indicated the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will reach out to each member municipality for additional input into the regional comprehensive plan.

In her report, Reginelli-Mirabito reminded everyone trick or treat is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. She added the Treat for the Trooper event planned 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at borough hall, 121 S. Walnut St., is still on.

Reginelli-Mirabito is also sponsoring a T-shirt sale to benefit the Bath Area Food Bank. T-shirts saying “Love of Cake” will be on sale for the balance of the year. Call the borough office at 610-837-1648 for information or to order a shirt.

Council passed two ordinances: ordinance number 2020-696 to amend Chapter 281 - Dumpsters and Portable On-Demand Units - adding property line placement relief and ordinance 2020-697 to amend Chapter 419 - Nuisances - amending motor vehicle nuisances.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in council chambers at borough hall.