At the March 1 Bath Borough Council meeting, it was announced the 2021 Community Days event, hosted by the fire department, would be canceled due to public safety concerns.

The fire department expressed the community focus needs to be getting eligible residents vaccinated against COVID-19 during this critical time.

Additionally, the fire department did not feel it was the best time to request sponsorship donations from area businesses that have been financially hit by the pandemic. Much of the funding for the Community Days event is from sponsorship by Bath businesses.

The Community Days cancellation sparked a debate about having this year’s Spuds & Suds festival. The street festival is held annually in August. The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the popular one-day festival, was present at the meeting to discuss approaches for having a safe, outdoor event.

Council members Michele Ehrgott, Barry Fenstermaker, Frank Hesch and Anthony Kovalosky voted to stop the planning for the Spuds & Suds event. Board President Mark Saginario and Councilwoman Carol Bear-Heckman dissented, wanting to wait a month before making a final decision. Councilwoman Phyllis Andrews voted to continue. The 4-2-1 vote led to a pause in event planning.

The Chamber requested to return at the April meeting to further discuss the festival in an effort to reconsider holding the event this August.

In other business, a $550,000 loan package was approved and will be sent to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval. This loan package will refinance the borough’s former debt of $147,000 while providing much-needed cash for the reconstruction of Penn Street from Washington Street to Broad Street.

Council accepted the resignation of public works employee Steven Tripp, who is leaving Bath for a larger role in a public works department in the area. Council wished him well on his new endeavor. The borough is hiring to fill the full-time vacancy.

The borough’s solicitor continues to work on the rental property regulatory ordinance providing for a rental inspection, real estate transfer use and the occupancy and disruptive conduct property program. The draft of the ordinance could be available for council review as early as the April meeting.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is 6:30 p.m. April 5. It is a hybrid meeting, with both virtual and in-person options. Visit bathborough.org for the meeting call-in number and meeting access code.