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Coplay considers new officers

Coplay Borough police Chief Ryan Emerich, fire Chief Joseph Britt and public works Director Paul Boyle joined council for the June 4 workshop meeting.

Emerich announced Jarrod Afflerback and Thomas Dunleavy as possible full-time police officers for the borough. Council will vote to approve the hiring of the two recent graduates at the general meeting June 11. Emerich said they are the best candidates out of the police academy’s graduating class.

“They set high marks and were the top two in shooting,” Emerich said. “And their grade averages overall for the entire year were 93% and 95%. I think that kind of speaks to the process that we’ve done and just the rigorous background training that we put them through. For them to have two of the highest scores, that’s pretty darn good. And they’re coming to us, which is good.”

Emerich also noted the amount of tickets given out during street cleaning was lower than average this year, with a total of 58 issued.

“That means that we’re doing better with getting the messaging out, getting the street signs out,” Emerich said. “Our goal isn’t to give tickets; it’s to keep the streets clean.”

Britt issued an announcement that the fire department is looking for volunteers.

“Every volunteer department is hurting for members, especially during the daytime hours,” Britt said. “If you’re retired or looking for something different to do during the summertime, please come down to the firehouse.”

The department offers weekly training and information sessions 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays if interested.

Michael Waldron, director of project operations for Acela Architects and Engineers, discussed the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. The program is aimed for municipalities to meet the criteria for stormwater discharge. Permits from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System must be required for coverage of this discharge.

Boyle discussed the borough’s landscape and how that affects the mandates of stormwater management set by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“[Stormwater] runoff that ends up in the Lehigh River, we have what they call a dry river bank that runs down along the American Club property that allots into the river. That needs some rehabilitation work done on it,” Boyle said. “Our other outfall, that’s just behind Bridge Street, basically just dilutes right into the ground before it gets to the rail trail.

“The object is to put a rain garden in there to catch the sediment that, when it flushes out, it doesn’t take sediment down to the river,” Boyle added.

Boyle also announced the official rollout of the Hometown Heroes project, which debuted Tuesday.

Mayor Stephen Burker announced there will be a question-and-answer, meet-and-greet event with important figures in the community and state, such as state representatives, senators and officers from the fire, police and public works departments.

“To be able to come and actually see these people, talk to these people - a lot of people know the names, but they don’t know the people. We’ll get a chance to meet them,” Burker said.

A definitive date has not been set, but Burker was hopeful to hold the event by the end of September.

Councilman Dean Hermany led a discussion about the borough’s pool. An opening date has been set for June 8.

Council will reconvene for the general meeting 7 p.m. June 11 at the municipal building, 98 S. Fourth St.