As the month’s only scheduled gathering in customary Summer tradition, the July 17 meeting of Hellertown Borough Council was lengthy and packed with many business items.

Dewey Fire Company presented Rick Delmore for approval as its next chief. Delmore, who served several years in the position ending about a decade ago, was elected again by the department following Matthew Simkovic’s June resignation.

Accompanied by his wife Vikki and several firefighters, Delmore, whose son Jon is the current Assistant Chief, was bestowed the oath of office by Mayor David Heintzelman.

Borough resident Kayleigh Kromka made a pre-scheduled appearance to request the council amend its current backyard chicken ordinance.

She said that after some of her Willow Rd. neighbors expressed frustration over the number of ants in their area, they considered the birds’ efficacy in controlling the bug population.

However, the borough requires coops to be 75 feet from all residences, which Kromka said is “really, really far.” She also referred to recent discussions in Bethlehem by its council on chickens in residential areas, acknowledging that the issue remains unsettled.

Notably, Councilor Andrew Hughes recalled a similar 2018 proposal his wife Sonya made before he was in his current role. At the time, the council would not budge on lowering the 75-foot requirement for even the bird owner’s residence, he said.

Council President Thomas Rieger said that while he was against taking any action in the past, he’d be “open to revisiting” discussions. Hughes, Rieger, and councilors Liz Thompson and Matt Marcincin mostly agreed, and suggested that any amendments include codes related to coop maintenance.

Ultimately, Rieger asked borough Manager Cathy Hartranft to produce a draft for the council’s consideration at the next meeting Aug. 21.

Rieger also noted that the borough recently received a Cease-and-Desist letter from Lower Saucon Township demanding it cease operations of the Saucon Valley Compost Center.

The facility, which Hellertown owns and operates but sits within the township’s jurisdiction, serves residents of both municipalities, although it charges LST residents a $25 fee. Rieger said that the borough’s legal team would appeal the action and that meanwhile, the center is open during regular business hours.

In other news, the council approved Lost Tavern Brewing’s application for a special permit to hold Hops 4 Hope 2023, a fundraiser benefitting pediatric cancer patients, in September. The brewery’s Kenny Rampolla said they and other sponsors decided to expand this year’s edition after the 2022 version raised over $30,000.

Marcincin also reported the upcoming resignation of Hellertown Area Library Director Noelle Kramer, who is moving out of the area with her family. He thanked Kramer, who was hired in April 2020, for her efforts through the COVID pandemic and the library’s central role in the borough’s ongoing dispute with Lower Saucon.