Near the end of the Jan. 5 Northampton Borough Council meeting, council President Anthony Lopsonzski Jr. tendered his resignation, vacating his position on council.

Lopsonzski Jr. said he is moving his family to a new home outside of Northampton. The Pennsylvania Borough Code requires that council members reside in the community of their elected office.

“It’s been fun, and I appreciate working with you all,” Lopsonzski Jr. said.

He served on council for 12 years, with seven years as president.

In an emotional tribute to his father, Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., who is also a council member, Lopsonzski Jr. thanked his father for all he has done for him and for suggesting that he become a council member in 2010.

“I thank Dad. He gave me the drive to do something different,” Lopsonzski Jr. added.

“I am proud of my son, daughter and my grandchildren,” Lopsonzski Sr. said, adding it is not always commonplace for a son to pay a warm tribute to his father in a public forum.

There was an outpouring of thanks for his service on council by his peers and borough Solicitor Brian Panella.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst thanked Lopsonzski Jr. for all he did in serving Northampton. Brobst sits beside Lopsonzski Jr. during council meetings and noted the number of times Lopsonzski Jr. lightly kicked Brobst in the leg when he was getting a little loud over an issue.

“You will be missed,” Brobst said.

“Tony has been the consummate councilman and council president, always putting Northampton first,” Northampton Mayor Tony Pristash said after the meeting. “He will certainly be missed, not only for his outstanding leadership, but also as a good friend and neighbor. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

In another watershed event, the meeting was the first livestreamed council meeting in Northampton history. Assistant borough Manager Brian Welsko reported there were 54 livestream participants watching the meeting.

In other business, a number of appointments were made by council at the meeting. Sylvia Wasko was appointed to the zoning hearing board, Donna Zangari was reappointed to the board of health, Jeffrey Odenwelder was reappointed to the planning commission, and Councilwoman Judy Haldeman was appointed to the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority.

If interested in serving the Northampton community, visit the borough website to review open seats on various borough committees.

Council approved the borough’s fee schedule involving applications, permits and licensing for 2023 via Resolution 2-23. A copy of the fee schedule is available from the borough office.

Council also approved the development plan for the Barn apartment project on Franklin Street. Permission was also granted by council to advertise the reworked rental inspection ordinance.

The borough received a distribution from the Pennsylvania Municipal Health Insurance Cooperative in the amount of $37,249.

Northampton County approved $8,000 to the borough for a project to target trail users.

It was also reported a grant application for $70,000 for remediation of a sewer line on Canal Street was approved.

Councilwoman Bonnie Almond said she recently responded to a garbage complaint. That drew her to what she viewed as not strong enough ordinance enforcement. She noted all of the borough’s ordinances need to be enforced to make the community better.

In her report, Councilwoman Judy Kutzler gave a fire department report, saying there were nine fire calls, five motor vehicle responses and a total of 26 contacts by the fire department during December 2022. She also noted the fire department is seeking more volunteers.

The next Northampton Borough Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 19 in the borough municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit the borough website, northamptonboro.com, for access to the livestreamed meeting.