Northampton Borough Council, at its Nov. 4 meeting, paused to honor Councilman Keith Piescienski, who died Oct. 26.

A graduate of Northampton High School, he was a former Northampton fire chief and a 50-year member of the borough’s volunteer fire department.

At the time of his death, Piescienski was vice president of Northampton Borough Council.

He was a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. His funeral service included full military honors.

Boyhood and lifelong friend, Northampton Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst spoke at the funeral.

“I went to school with Keith and knew him all my life,” Brobst said at the council meeting. “It was a pleasure, a sad pleasure, to speak at his funeral. I miss him.”

Other council members joined in to express their condolences and appreciation for the decades of community service by Piescienski.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. noted the success of the current fire department, in part, was due to the hard work, knowledge and dedication of Piescienski.

“He passed his (fire department) knowledge on to the fire department, making it better,” Lopsonzski Sr. said.

Kenneth Hall said the fire department service was beautiful. There were many uniformed firefighters present to honor their former beloved chief.

The borough is accepting letters of application to fill the vacancy on borough council.

In other business, representatives of the Alliance Fire Company presented a $2,000 check for the Northampton Fire Department.

Council approved the writing of a resolution to the Keystone Communities Grant program’s Local Share Account, Monroe County. The grant dollars would be used to replace the electronic sign in front of the borough’s fire station on Lerchenmiller Drive.

Another resolution was approved to apply for a Local Share Account, Lehigh/Northampton County grant. These dollars would be used to replace garage bay doors at the Northampton station.

A shredding event, requested by state Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, was approved and planned to be held 10 a.m.-noon April 30, 2022, in the parking lot of Northampton Banquet and Event Center, 1601 Laubach Ave.

Grace United Church of Christ, Ninth Street and Lincoln Avenue, was granted permission by council to convert two handicap-accessible parking spots outside the church to 24/7 accessible parking. One spot allowed for parking during church services only.

The New Journey Community Church received permission to use Uptown Park 6-8 p.m. Dec. 18 for a community caroling event. The rental fee for the park was waived.

Hall reported the borough received $22,000 from the county’s hotel tax account to provide landscaping and marketing plans for the borough trails.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure also informed the borough it was awarded a 2021 Grow Norco round 2 grant of $34,000 for a new police car and a $10,000 grant for the monarch butterfly preservation garden, tentatively planned for Canal Street Park.

Tony Pristash, in his building, land and recreation report, said “an excellent Christmas tree was located in Coplay.” The tree will be placed at Main Street and Laubach Avenue for a tree-lighting ceremony 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28. Santa is expected to arrive around 6 p.m.

Councilman Ron Glassic said Christmas lights will go up across the borough around Nov. 12 and will be turned on for the holiday season Nov. 24.

Glassic also reported he contacted PPL to make repairs to lights on Laubach Avenue that were damaged Sept. 1 during Hurricane Ida. Glassic reported PPL planned to make the repairs immediately.

The Oct. 27 death of former Northampton Recreation Center Director Robert Weinhofer was noted. Weinhofer was the first director of the facility. He retired in 2013.

The borough office will be closed Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day; however, the zoning hearing board will meet 7 p.m. to consider a request for a corner lot setback change by a resident who wants to install a fence.

At the Nov. 18 council meeting, Michael Baker International, the borough’s engineering consultant, will be present 7 p.m. to answer any questions from council and the public about the grant project to improve Northampton trails.

Solicitor Brian Panella reported he is finalizing two ordinances - one dealing with bed-and-breakfasts and the other about truck size. He said these ordinances will be ready for a council vote perhaps in December.

The next Northampton Borough Council meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in the council chamber at the borough’s municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave.