At the Dec. 12 Coplay Borough Council meeting, council members voted and approved the reappointment of Acela Engineering to provide engineering services for the borough through 2024. Council also approved the reappointment of Broughal and DeVito as solicitor for the borough.

Two candidates were unanimously approved for full-time employment with the police department, pending conditions of employment and completion of all Civil Service and Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission requirements.

Jarod Afflerbach and Thomas Dunleavy were approved by council to begin training at the police academy in January 2024 and continue on through field officer training and other required instructions, which upon successful completion will result in full-time police officer positions in the borough.

Council also voted in favor of approving Heather Chadwick as the borough’s assistant secretary, effective Jan. 1, 2024, and Melvin Procanyn was approved for another five-year term on the zoning board. Mick Dee was approved to be the Ironton Rail Trail alternate for the borough. Dee is the alternate to IRT Liaison Joseph Bundra.

Members of council granted approval for the 2024 Sanctuary at Haafsville assistance for stray cats contract. Council is still in search of an organization to help control any stray dog incidents.

After voting, council members approved the increase in the rent for Coplay Athletic Club in 2024 by $20. The monthly rent in 2024 will be $270.

Additionally, the rent per month for Explorer Post 101 for 2024 was approved to be increased by $10 to $70 per month.

A special meeting was held Dec. 18 at borough hall to review the budget. Council was also expected to vote on providing payment to the police officers of the borough for any unused vacation time through 2023.

Lastly, council voted on and approved to transfer funds in the following departments.

• $13,500 from general fund - streets: road construction to department projects

• $5,000 from general fund - streets: technology to department projects

• $7,500 from general fund - streets: equipment fund to department projects

• $50,000 from general fund - streets: parking lot paving to department projects

• $2,500 from general fund - streets: building maintenance to department projects

• $8,000 from general fund - police: bullet resistant vest to department projects

• $9,000 from general fund, - police: school to department projects

• $7,000 from general fund - police: recruitment retention to department projects

• $10,000 from garbage fund - new truck fund to department projects, until the new garbage project account is established

• $5,000 from garbage fund - technology to department projects, until the new garbage project account is established

• $25,000 from garbage fund - landfill maintenance to department projects, until the new garbage project account is established

Council President Lou Bodish, public works committee chair, announced the borough offices will be closed Dec. 25 and 26. Garbage collection will occur Dec. 27 and 28. Recycling in the borough will be picked up Dec. 29.

Council’s reorganization meeting will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 2, 2024, in borough hall, 98 S. Fourth St.