After two weeks of the Hellertown Borough Council scrambling to save its shared community library in the wake of a heated disagreement with its Lower Saucon Township counterpart, the Feb. 7 meeting saw the council take the unprecedented step of officially putting their partnership on hold.

The council voted to “pause Hellertown - Lower Saucon Intergovernmental Committee and Partnership participation by Hellertown Borough until such time when a formal review can be conducted by Borough Administration and presented to Hellertown Council for further action,” according to a statement by President Thomas Rieger.

As a result, Rieger also announced that the borough would not be sending its usual representatives to a meeting scheduled two evenings later. The Partnership was established in 2004 between the two municipalities and the Saucon Valley School District, eventually bringing Northampton County into the fold in 2009.

In other business conducted during the hour-long meeting, council approved the borough’s last step in declaring its independence from the Pa. Liquor Control Board’s noise regulations. Discussions on the topic stem from the borough’s July 2021 adoption of a revised ordinance, drawn in part by police Chief Robert Shupp to better codify acceptable levels of sound.

It was acknowledged at the time that the revision did not apply to bars, restaurants and other businesses that fall under the LCB’s jurisdiction. The potential change would allow for more uniformity in enforcement, Shupp said, as he characterized the state’s current rules as “strict and outdated.” The borough’s application will now be subject to the LCB’s review.

Recently-promoted Dewey Fire Company Chief Matthew Simkovic joined the meeting remotely to provide some updates, including on the department’s brand-new fire engine, nicknamed ‘Darth Vader.’

Simkovic, who recently returned from a trip to the Michigan manufacturer to inspect the vehicle in person, said it would be shipped in late February. Once the truck comes in, it will take a brief detour to a New Jersey facility for the addition of graphics and tool-mounting, he said.

He also noted “lessons learned” from the last few months of calls, highlighting the need for working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside dwellings. Simkovic referred to the recent Quakertown tragedy which killed several members of a family, urging residents who need the devices to reach out to the department.

In a sure sign that borough officials are thinking of warmer weather and better things to come, Rieger announced that the annual Music in the Park series is “almost 100 percent a ‘go,’” with four dates tentatively scheduled. He also noted that plans for a food truck festival are progressing, too, through the borough’s partnership with the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The council authorized the advertisement of several open positions at its community pool. With last year’s staffing shortages fresh in everybody’s mind, Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft emphasized the upcoming need for aquatics and concession/ticket booth managers, as well as lifeguards and other hourly staff.