During the hearing of persons present agenda item at the Sept. 1 Northampton Borough Council meeting, several residents shared troubling experiences they claimed to have been enduring in their Newport Avenue neighborhood since January.

Residents told council members they believe these occurrences border on criminal activity from their tenant neighbors. These happenings have prompted their attendance at the meeting, the residents conveyed, and they expressed frustration by what they perceive as a lack of effective official involvement.

They chronicled near-nightly parties that carry on until the early-morning hours, which the residents allege could involve drug use and under-aged drinking.

One resident who attended the meeting offered a specific example of one of these incidents - alleged intoxicated individuals after midnight barking loudly like dogs to get neighborhood dogs barking to wake up neighbors.

The residents relayed police have been called many times but said no consistent relief from the harassment and misbehavior has occurred.

One resident said it is a shame for the homeowners, who have pride in their homes, that these “renters don’t take care of their homes.”

Another resident said he bought a house and moved his family, which includes young children, to Northampton and was happy to live in the borough. He noted now his young kids cannot go out on their front porch because of alleged insolent behavior from the offending neighbors.

“I bought a crap house in a crap town,” the gentleman said during the meeting, emphasizing how frustrated he is with a lack of effective official response to end the harassment.

He added the harassment is creating anxiety for him, his wife and their kids. He said his family is yelled at by the neighbors and he endures other forms of harassment, such as being stared at and hearing negative comments made toward him and his family.

Some residents said they are purchasing cameras to record any misbehavior but said they want additional action taken.

Council Vice President Judy Kutzler ran the meeting in council President Anthony Lopsonzski Jr.’s absence. Kutzler asked the residents to make an appointment to meet with the code enforcement officer.

One resident said it is not a code enforcement problem, but a police issue. A tentative plan is to coordinate efforts by the code enforcement officer and Northampton Police Department to provide closer monitoring and take official action as appropriate.

In other news, resolution 2022 No. 9 was passed by council. The resolution approves an agreement with PPL to convert street lighting from high-pressure sodium to LED.

Police Chief Bryan Kadingo requested and received council approval to send two detectives to a one-day training seminar titled “Social Media and Open Source Investigations.” The cost is $225 per attendee.

Council approved the hiring of Brian Wescoe to be the borough’s assistant borough manager. Wescoe is an educator who taught physics. He said he looks forward to assuming his new role.

In his report, Councilman Kenneth Hall noted there will be a resolution at the Sept. 15 council meeting to apply for a Local Share Account grant in the amount of $24,900 for the purchase and installation of surveillance cameras and digital video recorders for the borough park system, various borough-owned areas and for livestreaming council meetings.

Hall also reported preparations for the 2023 budget are occurring.

Budget meetings will be scheduled with various department heads between Sept. 23 and Oct. 14.

Hall also reported Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum received a $1,000 donation from Buzzi Unicem USA. Buzzi Unicem USA is headquartered in Bethlehem. It is part of an Italian multinational corporation. Its home office is in Casale Monferrato, Italy, and operates subsidiaries in Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, Algeria, Eastern Europe and North America.

Councilwoman Judy Haldeman, in her report, noted the municipal swimming pool gross receipts were about $5,700, lower than last year. It was reported the pool is not a profitable business for the borough, but it is considered a quality-of-life endeavor. Haldeman said she would like to see improvements at the pool and efforts to attract more visitors.

In her fire and health report, Councilwoman Bonnie Almond noted the Ehrlich Company was contacted to address a mice problem at the fire station.

She also noted Northampton County is sponsoring a household hazardous waste collection event for residents. The event is planned for 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Northampton Community College, Bethlehem Township. Information about the event and how to participate is posted on the borough’s website, northamptonboro.com, under What’s Happening.

In Councilman Ronald Glassic’s report, he echoed the importance of improving the swimming pool operations in order to increase gross revenues there in 2023.

Glassic publicly apologized to the residents of Newport Avenue for the tribulations they have been reportedly enduring at the hands of their neighbors and said he expects the situation will be addressed.

In his report, borough Manager Leroy Brobst paid tribute to former Northampton Police Detective Robert “Whitey” Lindenmoyer, who died Sept. 1.

“Whitey will be missed,” Brobst said.

The next council meeting, in person only, is 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave.