Coplay Borough Council began its Dec. 16 special meeting with a moment of silence in memory of council Vice President Charles Sodl, who died Dec. 15.

Sodl, 83, was appointed by Coplay Borough Council to fill a vacancy in 2011. He was elected to Coplay Borough Council in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Later in his council tenure, Sodl served as council vice president.

He had also been a member of Coplay Borough Planning Commission and served on Coplay Public Library’s board of directors.

Sodl was a volunteer for the Coplay Community Days committee and was a leader at Coplay Sports Inc. for several decades.

In other business, council approved the 2025 budget with no tax increase. The real estate rate will remain at 9.34 mills.

Resolution 1518 establishing the garbage rate was also approved but with a cost increase. The regular annual household rate will be $440, up $20. The rate for a senior citizen household will be $400, also up $20. There is a 10% discount if paid by March 31.

Business rates range from $585 to $6,120 and also carry the March 31 payment discount.

Council approved the establishment of a 2% commission rate to the borough tax collector for the collection of these fees and the borough office to collect the delinquent garbage fees from 2024.

Also at the Dec. 13 meeting, council approved a title change for Tiffany Benson, from secretary-treasurer to borough administrator/secretary-treasurer, and Heather Chadwick, from assistant secretary to administrative assistant/administrative secretary. Chadwick’s reappointment in a borough role was approved earlier in the meeting.

The following borough positions and roles were approved at the Dec. 10 meeting of council: First Northern Bank & Trust and Neffs National Bank as depositories for borough of Coplay funds; Acela Engineering for engineering services; Broughal & DeVito as solicitor; Benson as the Right to Know officer; Joseph Britt as fire chief; Ryan Emerich as police chief; and Neil DeWalt to a three-year term on Coplay Public Library’s board of directors.

Clint Wambold was approved as a full-time police officer in the borough. He graduated from the police academy earlier this month.

Council approved a 2025 contract with Helen’s 501(c)3 rescue, in the amount of $2,000, for animal trap and release.

Council voted to not increase the rent for Coplay Athletic Club and Explorer Post 101, both of which use areas in borough hall, and to donate $500 to Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative.

At the Dec. 3 meeting, Benson reported the borough received a $13,126 grant for recycling bins and educational materials. The grant is available every four years, and the funding is applied to a mandatory program to educate and encourage residents of the importance of recycling. The borough distributes printed informational cards that detail important dates for trash and recycling collection.

Council approved a 2025 updated fee schedule.

Also at the meeting, Emerich reported the police department responded to 264 calls in November, issued 14 parking tickets and made 13 arrests.

Britt reported the fire department responded to 23 calls in November. He also expressed thanks for a successful Black Friday coin toss, which collected $2,000.

Borough council will next meet 7 p.m. Jan. 7, 2025, for a workshop and Jan. 14, 2025, for a regular meeting. Both are held at borough hall, 98 S. Fourth St.