The April 3 Bath Borough Council meeting included a presentation from Lt. James W. Thomas Jr. of Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Bethlehem.

Thomas underscored the rapid response time for serious calls in Bath, specifically noting the four-minute response time after the Feb. 2 discharge of firearms in the borough. The event startled many Bath residents. Thomas noted residents need to call in anything suspicious they see.

Thomas explained he believes the state police are providing very good police services to Bath. He pledged to assist Bath in any way he can.

One resident expressed wishes for more enforcement. She added a regional or local police force could provide greater presence in the borough.

Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito said the state police spend more time in the borough than the former regional department.

“I think you have a good situation (with police services) in Bath. There are challenges starting a police department like finding quality police to staff a department,” Thomas said in response to the borough forming its own department.

Other topics discussed include the potential of forming a crime watch, allocation of resources and state police funding.

Thomas said staffing decisions are based on incidents. He noted there have been few serious incidents in Bath.

State police services are offered at no cost to the borough. Since the state police took over Bath policing, taxpayers reportedly saved more than $2 million.

Borough Manager Brad Flynn said there will be a study of needs and performance of the state police to be completed by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. It is a planned evaluation after five years of coverage.

In other business, council adopted resolution 2023-002 that appointed an emergency management coordinator for the borough.

Ordinance 2023-728 amends Chapter 625 regarding vehicles and traffic; amends uniform traffic regulations; repeals parking prohibitions 2-6 a.m.; revises parking time limited at specific locations; and revises Main Street two-hour parking.

The public works department will be repairing potholes and beginning road repairs. If you spot a pothole in Bath, report its location to the borough office.

The parks and recreation committee plans to develop a master plan for parks development and assess recreation opportunities in Bath.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting will be 6 p.m. May 1 at 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 numbers to view virtually.