At the April 4 Bath Borough Council meeting, Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito publicly thanked those who volunteered to collect and those who donated nonperishable items to Ukraine at the borough-sponsored relief effort last month.

Ukraine is war torn from an invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Donations were dropped off at Bath’s Firefighters Park, 300 Chestnut St.

A FedEx truck was donated for use at the event to collect the donations.

“I am grateful for the effort of our citizens to help this important cause,” Reginelli-Mirabito said after the meeting.

Reginelli-Mirabito also noted Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, at the Bethlehem barracks, has a new commander, Capt. Derek A. Koch.

Koch enlisted in the state police in 1998 and worked his way through the ranks.

He was an officer in the Pennsylvania National Guard and holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Pennsylvania State University and a graduate degree from Northwestern University, School of Police Staff and Command.

The PSP was created by an act of legislation signed into law by then-Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker in 1905. It was the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States.

Koch has a large role to fill and long successful PSP history to uphold. Reginelli-Mirabito has consistently asked borough residents to assist in community safety by calling the police to provide any concerns or complaints they have.

“If you see something, say something,” she said she constantly tells the community.

The mayor feels the PSP has done a good job for the borough since taking over Bath’s police services several years ago. State police replaced Colonial Regional Police Department when council felt annual police costs escalated to an unsustainable level.

The police change has reportedly resulted in tax savings to the borough of nearly $2 million.

In other council matters, Empire Realty is working on a real estate development called Bathwick. It is a high-end 60-apartment project behind the Old Forge section of Bath. The initial plan submission was not complete, so Empire will rework the plan to garner council’s approval.

At the meeting, council worked toward passing two ordinances.

Ordinance 2022-720 amends the vehicles and traffic ordinance. The amendment updates the uniform traffic regulations, relocating a loading zone in front of 225 W. Northampton St. and creating no stopping zones.

Ordinance 2022-721 is amending the property maintenance code, eliminating the board of appeals process and requiring appeals to be conducted in magisterial district court.

Copies of both ordinances are available by contacting the borough office or visiting bathborough.org.

The next borough council meeting will be 6 p.m. May 2 at Bath Borough Hall, 121 S. Walnut St. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit bathborough.org for the call-in and access codes to participate virtually.