Hellertown Police Officer Retires After Nearly Three Decades
Hellertown Borough Council met on Monday and approved the retirement of Senior Patrolman Dominick Fragano. Fragano spent time as the department’s Interim Police Chief in late 2023 and early 2024 following the resignation of former chief Robert Shupp.
“It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to inform you of my retirement from the position of Senior Patrolman, effective March 26, 2025,” Fragano said in a letter to council. “After careful consideration, I have decided to retire and begin a new chapter in my life. This has been a very difficult decision for me due to my dedication and devotion to this community over the past 27 years of service.”
“Thank you for the wonderful years of working together. It has been a pleasure being part of this organization and community, and I will cherish the memories and experiences gained throughout my career,” Fragano added.
Borough council also approved creating “a new list of hire for full-time police officers and (to) direct the Civil Service Commission to send updated rules to council in two weeks to be used for the creation of the new list.”
Council President Tom Rieger said Chief James Baitinger raised many important points after a meeting with the commission, and that commissioners were wholeheartedly receptive to them.
“With the retirement of Ofc. Fragano we’re down three (officers) now, so we really need to strike in some of the classes that are graduating or soon-to-be graduating, so we can take advantage of those new classes that are in the police academy right now,” Baitinger said.
Hellertown Park Project Updates
Bryan Smith, borough engineer, said a new basketball court at Dimmick Park will hopefully be paved this week (weather permitting) and should be ready for play by the end of the month. The other borough-owned basketball court in Water Street Park is very popular in the warmer months, and after encountering resident opposition to a plan to build a court along Depot Street near the Hellertown Pool, council decided in 2023 to refurbish a dilapidated court nearby, close to Tobias Drive.
At Gregory Park–which has been undergoing major renovations–Smith said playground equipment is tentatively set to be installed next week, weather permitting. The triangular park is located at Easton Road and Third Avenue in the borough.
In a related decision, borough council also authorized submission of an application for a PA Small Water & Sewer grant for underground conveyance. Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft told council this is a one-time opportunity.
“This is a grant application for actually two sections within the borough–one is at Dimmick Park. This is the area above the new basketball court,” Smith explained. “We’re looking to enclose that channel, so that the water would go through a pipe….”
“The other is over at Reinhard’s Park,” he said. “Right now, there is an open concrete channel that goes to Saucon Street and it creates this huge channel onto the sidewalk, so it’s not really accessible.”
“This would be the same thing, enclosing it, putting in a pipe and conveying it to the street,” Smith added.
The next Hellertown Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall and online.
