With discussion on its troubled partnership with Lower Saucon Township tabled until the next meeting, the Hellertown Borough Council was able to address multiple issues affecting residents at its May 16 meeting.

With a somewhat light agenda for the evening, the council welcomed planned remarks from Saucon Valley graduate and Hellertown resident Garrett Powell. He offered a loose proposal for a Climate Action Plan, saying, “two-thirds of voters say that the government isn’t taking enough action [on] climate change.”

Powell, a mechanical engineer at Lutron Electronics in Coopersburg, said the climate action is a personal interest and he hoped goals would include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in renewable energy investments. Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft volunteered to work with Powell, but said she wants “to look at it in a realistic way,” adding, “we’re a very small municipality.”

Council member Terri Fadem was enthusiastic about Powell’s ambitions, saying she “would love to be a part of creating a climate action plan for our borough.” Her colleague Mike McKenna also volunteered to participate and the council voted unanimously to create an exploratory committee on the topic.

Police Chief Robert Shupp joined the meeting to urge drivers to slow down on Linden Ave. between Easton Road. and the entrance to the Steel Club golf course. He said the department had been receiving complaints from neighborhood residents about folks “from out of town” speeding to and from the golf course. Police have issued several tickets so far in the 25 MPH zone, he said.

Recently-promoted Dewey Fire Company Chief Kyle Bartholomew also joined, providing his department’s six-month update, with a tragic emphasis on an observed uptick in structural blazes. From Nov. 1 through April 30, firefighters responded to 185 calls for service, Bartholomew said, including 18 fires and eight confirmed building fires.

“That doesn’t seem like a lot, but looking back” at similar periods in history, he added, “The most (fires) we responded to [were] two... I know I mentioned this last time: we have smoke detectors (and) we have carbon monoxide detectors. If you are in need, please reach out.”

On a positive note, Bartholomew said the company’s yearly carnival is planned for July 12-16. “We’re going to try to keep the same format as we had last year” with a band and other entertainment and themes for each night, as well as the popular annual fireworks display that Friday, he added.

In other business, Mayor David Heintzelman briefly noted that he’d received complaints from borough residents about traffic congestion near the intersection of Water and Front streets, where the new Pa. House restaurant recently opened for business. He said he recently spoke to Zoning and Codes Officer Kris Russo, who assured him that the business’ setup is following PennDOT regulations, but is aware of the issue.

Council President Thomas Rieger called for volunteers and sponsors for the borough’s Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20. The deadline to apply is July 6, and interested parties can find an application on the Hellertown website or send an email to communityday@hellertownborough.org.

In preparation for the borough’s June 20 spring yard waste collection, Public Works director Barry Yonney asked the public “to put their waste in (paper) recycling bags instead of plastic like we’ve been.” He also asked residents to be mindful of leaving trash at the Water Street basketball court, noting how his cleanup crew has been filling a five-gallon waste can “every day.”

Hartranft also followed up briefly on plans for the Saucon Valley Community Center’s summer youth program. It will consist of two separate four-week sessions, running from approximately June 20 to Aug. 12. The Monday through Friday half-day morning sessions have the capacity for 36 children per session with three staff (for a ratio of 12 per child).

Hartranft added that the program cost – about $18,000, she said – will be paid for with American Rescue Plan funding. Although the money was already approved at a previous meeting, she said, the council then held another official vote granting their unanimous support for the plans as specified.