With the scheduled June 4 edition canceled due to a “lack of business,” the Hellertown Borough Council’s meeting on the evening of June 20 saw several significant issues affecting residents addressed.

Council member Andrew Hughes provided an update on the Dewey Fire Company’s newest truck, “Darth Vader,” which after being commissioned earlier in the year was recently delivered to the department. Touring it was like “walking into a small house,” he said, and more details on the truck and its upcoming official entry into regular service can be found on the department’s Facebook page.

Council also approved a sale of the company’s 2006 KME Predator truck for $90,000 to an outside buyer. Hughes noted that the cash sale has the support of the borough’s fire chief, Matthew Simkovic. Council President Thomas Rieger Jr. and member Mike McKenna were the only two ‘no’ votes.

Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft and police Chief Robert Shupp informed the council of his department’s successful applications for two grants totaling $117,000 from the Northampton and Lehigh Counties’ Local Share Account, a program developed by the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development and funded via gaming revenues in the county. Shupp noted that the money will likely be spent on replacing their two oldest vehicles, as well as an update to the fleet’s in-car computer system.

He also further addressed an issue raised at the previous council meeting: traffic congestion and parking on Front and Water streets near the Pa. House restaurant. Shupp said that he, Hartranft and engineer Bryan Smith recently discussed the concerns, and he and public works Director Barry Yonney visually inspected the area.

The new eatery has 16 on-premise parking spots, Shupp said. Occasionally, however, too many overflow vehicles along Front Street have led to the incidental blocking of residential driveways, among other concerns. The chief informed council that he decided to have 22 defined spots painted south of Water Street.

Staying on the topic, Rieger further asked, “at what point in time does this become a four-way stop?” He then referred to a borough-wide 2019 traffic study and suggested requesting PennDOT conduct an update, focusing on emerging issues at Water Street, as well as on Walnut and Main streets. The council formally approved a motion to back Rieger’s suggestion.

Two months’ worth of Treasurer’s Reports were approved together due to the skipped meeting, with Rieger warning of ongoing fuel and oil cost increases. Yonney also noted that paper product costs have increased by “20 percent,” and council member Gil Stauffer added that chlorine prices are projected to soar as well, potentially affecting future pool operations.

In brighter news, Rieger thanked Hartranft for her efforts to recruit staff to help successfully open the Hellertown Pool for another year, noting, “it was not an easy task.” In turn, Hartranft thanked all the college students and adults who she said “stepped up and applied,” adding, “I think we’re going to have a great year.”

Rieger also said that the first annual Food Truck Festival, held June 4 at Dimmick Park, was “an outstanding success.” He specifically thanked the volunteers who helped clean up, as attendance was so robust that each trash can available was filled to its brim, he added.