Bath Borough Council held a combination reorganization and monthly council meeting Jan. 2 at borough hall. Pennsylvania state law requires municipalities to reorganize every two years on even years.

The meeting agenda included the election of council president, vice president and council pro-tempore. Various other appointments were made after the new council was seated.

Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito ran the reorganization meeting until the president and vice president were selected. After the president and vice president were elected, she turned the meeting over to the newly elected president.

Reginelli-Mirabito used her time to issue a statement to her Bath constituency and council members. She thanked council for its past successes and wished all the best throughout 2024.

Councilman Frank Hesch was elected by council to the office of president of council. Michele Ehrgott was elected council vice president, and Emanuel Mirabito was elected to the role of council pro-tem.

Council pro-tempore, commonly called council pro-tem, is the presiding officer at a council meeting if both the president and vice president are unavailable to attend. The Latin term pro-tempore means “temporarily” or “for the time being.”

Council approved the addition of a junior council member. Lila Goldfarb is a junior at Northampton Area High School. It was noted she is excited about her seat as a junior council member, and she reportedly has some ideas she wants to work on to benefit the Bath community.

Reginelli-Mirabito announced the new leader of Pennsylvania State Police Troop M will attend the February council meeting. State Police Troop M provides police services to Bath. The state police plan to review the last quarter of crime statistics for Bath Borough.

The legal team of Salzmann and Hughes was expected to be at a special council meeting Jan. 10 to possibly consult the borough on MS4 strategy.

Phillip West and Christopher Butra were appointed to the borough’s planning commission. Molly Bender was appointed to the borough’s zoning hearing board. Various other appointments were made by council during the reorganization meeting.

Also at the meeting, council discussed ordinance 2024-73, creating an accessible zone on Washington Street.

The next council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at borough hall, 121 S. Walnut St. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit bathborough.org for the access numbers to the view the meeting virtually.