At the Feb. 3 Northampton Borough Council meeting, borough Manager Leroy Brobst noted tax preparers associated with the AARP are visiting the Northampton Recreation Center, 1 Lerchenmiller Drive, to prepare residents’ 2021 tax returns.

The tax preparers will begin preparing taxes within a week. Brobst pointed out these tax preparation services are by appointment only. The number to call to arrange the service is 484-282-0767.

Brobst opined there are a limited number of appointment slots, so he urged those interested to call as soon as possible to make an appointment. Tax preparation clients will not be allowed to congregate within the lobby of the recreation center. They will be invited into the building when it is their turn to have their taxes done.

AARP is the American Association of Retired Persons. However, this tax service is open to all regardless of age.

Joseph Britt, of Coplay, was sworn in by Mayor Tony Pristash as a full-time Northampton Borough police officer. A request for the hiring of a part-time code enforcement officer was tabled to a future meeting.

Resolution 2022-4 will be prepared to codify a settlement to a Northampton police officer injured while on duty. He is unable to return to his police officer role. His wages and medical costs are currently covered under the borough’s heart and lung policy.

The Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act provides wage and medical benefits for police officers and paid firefighters who are temporarily disabled due to an injury in the line of duty, to be paid by the municipality. In order to receive the proposed settlement, the injured police officer needed to be removed from the borough’s heart and lung policy. Council voted unanimously for the removal.

Councilman Kenneth Hall said he noticed a number of sidewalks had not been cleaned by residents. It was pointed out the police get called if a resident does not shovel their sidewalks.

Pristash said he plans to meet with Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, about grant funding and resources available from the state for the borough.

Pristash also reported he met with students from Good Shepherd Catholic School to talk about what a mayor does and the borough in general. He was impressed with the questions the kids asked him.

One first-grader reportedly asked Pristash, “Where is the White House in Northampton?” Pristash, usually never at a loss for words, lacked an answer.

Junior council member Ryleigh Tillotson requested and received permission to explore developing an Instagram page for the borough. Brobst asked Tillotson to stop by his office to discuss the matter and setting up the page.

Anthony Lopsonzski Jr., council president, publicly thanked Republic Sanitation Services for the clear improvement in its effort to pick up garbage in the borough. He noted Republic put together a plan after the borough received numerous complaints about missed garbage pickups.

“It is a job well done,” Lopsonzski Jr. said.

“We have less complaints from residents,” Meghan Case, administration leader, agreed.

Councilwoman Judy Kutzler implored residents to contribute to the Northampton Fire Department‘s annual fund drive. She noted the borough contributes about 67 percent of the department funds.

“They must raise the balance of their budget, which is quite a lot,” Kutzler said. “Please place a check in the fundraising envelope all households received.”

Councilman Ron Glassic asked council to consider allowing residents to have a hearing of persons present agenda item at the end of the meeting. Currently, there is a hearing of persons present agenda item at the beginning of the meeting only. Glassic also asked council to consider changing the council meeting start time to 7 p.m. from the current 7:30 p.m.

No decisions were made by council.

Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. asked council to consider hiring more police officers, “even if it means a tax hike.” A retired police officer with three decades of experience, he said the additional police will enhance community and officer safety.

Lopsonzski Sr. also readdressed the idea of a parking deck in the business section west of Main Street.

“Let’s at least look into it,” he asked.

Lopsonzski Sr. asked Tillotson to look into when a parade for the highly successful 2021 Northampton Area High School football team can occur. She noted she will look into a parade for the football team.

The next meeting of Northampton Borough Council is 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the borough’s municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave.