At the Northampton Borough Council meeting April 7, borough Solicitor Brian Panella explained proposed ordinance 2022-1221, which will regulate short-term rental units within the borough and establish penalties and violations of the ordinance.

The ordinance establishes guidelines for the creation, inspection and regulation of short-term rental units. The ordinance is a response to the shared economy circumstance of people renting out portions of their homes and/or their entire home when they are out of town.

Panella noted the ordinance will be effective Jan. 1, 2023. Mayor Tony Pristash asked why the ordinance effective day is in 2023.

Panella said the ordinance is complicated, and he wants to ensure those providing short-term rentals have enough time to read and comply with the regulations in the ordinance.

“We want to give current operators an opportunity to get in compliance,” he said.

In other business, sealed bids were opened for the borough’s purchase of road materials. The lowest bidder will be awarded the contract after a review by the borough engineer and solicitor.

The borough’s health officer was approved to attend a training program for $125.

Four 15-minute parking spaces were designated in the municipal lot near the Affordable Pet Center behind 2022 Main St. Previously, signs designating the restricted parking had been damaged. The recommendation comes with a request to protect the signs with parking blocks.

The approval of the parking spaces prompted Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. to again ask council to consider a parking deck at that municipal parking lot.

Police Chief Bryan Kadingo requested and received permission to send two police officers to a course on less lethal munitions. The training, at a cost of $275 per officer, will be held June 13 at the Lehigh Township Police Department.

Council approved Pristash and council President Anthony Lopsonzski Jr. to represent Northampton as a voting delegate and alternate delegate at the annual 2022 Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

Council approved the hiring of a public works mechanic, contingent on a successful physical, drug and alcohol test and a background check.

The following organizations’ request for use of the borough’s portable band shell were approved by council: Becky’s Drive-In, Vera Cruz Community Association, Nazareth Chamber of Commerce and Greater Bath Area Chamber of Commerce.

The New Journey Community Church requested and received permission to use the borough’s Municipal Park pavilions A and B on Easter Sunday. Any and all fees were waived by council.

It was reported that, as of April 4, interest and penalties billing will be applied to all unpaid garbage bills. The borough has reportedly received $1,099,072.83 in garbage fee payments as of March 31.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst, a multi-decade Northampton Borough employee, noted he recently watched the Municipal Park ball field being groomed. Brobst noted it was his job to groom the field many years ago.

“It took me back to a time when I was the one doing it,” Brobst remembered fondly.

Brobst also reported about 1,600 Easter eggs were stuffed at the municipal building for the April 10 borough Easter egg hunt. He was delighted by the volunteer assistance to complete this task.

The deadline to register rental units was March 31. Brobst said 86 percent have complied with registering their rental units. There is a penalty assessed for late registrants.

The public works department had an opportunity to see a demonstration of a rough bush cutter. It comes with a price tag of $200,000. The machine is of high quality, it was reported. There is a plan to contact local municipalities to see if any would be interested in a multimunicipal agreement to share ownership and use of the cutter.

The next Northampton Borough Council meeting is 7:30 p.m. April 21 at the municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave., Northampton.