Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce held a virtual State of the Region May 20.

The State of the Region is a joint report, typically provided by the mayors or other elected officials of Catasauqua, North Catasauqua, Whitehall and Coplay.

Catasauqua Borough Mayor Barbara A. Schlegel was unavailable to give the Catasauqua report. Borough Manager Steven Travers was to present the report, but a last-minute borough business meeting precipitated his cancellation. Hence, there was no Catasauqua report.

North Catasauqua Borough Mayor William J. Molchany Jr. reported the borough expects to receive $280,000 from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

Molchany’s borough wish list for these funds, among other items, is to provide police body cameras and new computers in police cars. An upgrade in the borough office computer system and parkway and trail improvements are earmarked for this funding. Pollinator garden funding is planned at the triangle at Sixth and Grove streets.

Whitehall Township Mayor Michael P. Harakal Jr. gave a passionate dissertation about the increased littering occurring in the township. He sees growing litter in Whitehall as another pandemic.

Before MacArthur Road grew to become the retail center it is - when it was just a two-lane road to Allentown - littering was not an issue and the township was clean, Harakal noted.

All residents need to be involved in addressing littering in Whitehall, Harakal said. People who throw cigarette butts, shopping sales fliers and wrappers from fast-food restaurants out their car windows and in parking lots contribute most to the litter.

“I live in Whitehall, and we do not want litter,” Harakal said, noting there is a $1,000 fine for a person caught littering.

“It is very hard to catch the litterbug in the act,” he added.

He opined that Whitehall needs everyone to pitch in and commit to picking up debris in their neighborhood. This will increase pride in the community, he said.

The township is developing a litter campaign with support from the community and local businesses.

“Don’t litter; be Whitehall proud,” he said, adding, “Make Whitehall clean again.”

Harakal said the plan includes giving awards to businesses, organizations and individuals who help with the litter cleanup. He thanked the township’s environmental advisory council for its efforts.

Harakal also chronicled the numerous activities and developments in Whitehall. He noted the emergency services building is expected to open by the end of 2021.

He thanked the police, fire department, public works and township employees for their hard work throughout a very challenging year dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outgoing Coplay Borough Mayor Dean Molitoris was not available to produce a report due to schedule conflicts. Councilman Stephen W. Burker was tapped to provide the Coplay report.

Burker noted the new public works department building is under construction at 1 Bridge St. under the Coplay-Northampton Bridge with an Aug. 16 expected completion. A recycling center is also planned on the new public works property.

New playground equipment is needed. Grant requests are in for playground equipment replacement at the Coplay Parkway and the tot lot on South Fifth Street.

A new Coplay sanitation truck has been purchased, with delivery expected soon.

Burker, who is a Coplay Community Days committee leader, announced the committee will be donating $20,000 for refurbishing one - and creating another - basketball court at Saylor Park.

Paulie’s Restaurant, Chestnut and Ruch streets, closed due to the pandemic and will be opening soon under new ownership with the name The Coplay Eatery. Likewise, the former Second Street Tavern will be reopening under new ownership within a few weeks.

Burker reported the municipal building gym roof will be either repaired or possibly replaced.

At the Maple Street war memorial, Burker said, memorial benches were installed to honor three residents of note: one bench in memory of an accomplished, extraordinary Coplay resident, a second for a Coplay resident who was a Pearl Harbor survivor and a third for an Army veteran who came home from World War II and served six terms on Coplay Borough Council.

During the question period, the topic of taxes was the first to be addressed. Harakal noted taxes were raised last year because of the costs associated with the new emergency services building and does not anticipate a tax hike next year.

Coplay has struggled with property taxes, raising them every year for over a decade, it was reported. The Coplay Borough Finance Committee chair recently stated publicly she expects two more years of tax hikes. Coplay property taxes are now about double the property tax rate in Whitehall.

Molchany said North Catasauqua raised taxes last year, which was the first tax hike since 2007.

Harakal was asked to elaborate on the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative garden. He asked the questioner to contact him, and he will provide information about the effort to provide fresh vegetables to those in need in the township.

A final question was about the lack of a crime watch in these municipalities. Burker said there is a crime watch in Coplay - the Coplay Neighborhood Crime Watch. Leaders send out crime alerts and crime watch tips to those who provide their email addresses.

Harakal noted the former Whitehall Crime Watch lost interest and slowly dissipated. The police department is not, at this time, advocating for a crime watch.

Molchany reported North Catasauqua Borough Council recently acted to explore the development of a crime watch to assist the police department in reducing crime.