O’Donnell Appointed to Hellertown Borough Council

A Hellertown resident, educator and community volunteer was appointed to fill a vacant seat on Borough Council last week.

At council’s June 2 meeting, a motion unanimously passed for Larry O’Donnell to take the seat held by former councilwoman Terri Fadem, who recently became the borough’s new zoning officer. O’Donnell’s appointment is for the remainder of Fadem’s term, which ends in December.

Currently an administrator and teacher at Lehigh Learning Academy, O’Donnell is also running for a full term on borough council. He is a long-time Hellertown Area Library volunteer and, more recently, has joined the Hellertown Historical Society.

“I like to give back,” he said. “Volunteerism and public service have been in my blood since I was a teenager. I really feel that I have the appropriate skills to help the borough. I have a broad range of skills with non-profits, civil service and stuff like that.”

Councilwoman Liz Thompson added that O’Donnell also served on the planning commission for a number of years.

“That’s how I first got involved in public government here, and I learned so much with the planning commission,” O’Donnell said. 

“I was really proud to be a part of the SALDO reorganization that we did over the past couple of years… I really learned a lot of the nuts and bolts of how the borough operates…and that’s been very, very valuable to me…,” he added.

Thompson asked O’Donnell what he thought the biggest challenges facing the borough are and how he would like to address them.

“I think communication is key for any kind of organization, especially for one the size of Hellertown,” said O’Donnell. “We have so many different layers and levels. We have non-profits, elected officials, appointed officials, staff, emergency responders, and I feel like communication between those different levels is important, and we can improve it.”

O’Donnell said he wants to get the public more involved in local government affairs.

“I also think that the citizens need to be more informed, and we can help them with that…I think we can really help educate people as to what the different government organizations do,” he said.

Council President Tom Rieger mentioned there were additional applicants for the seat. After his appointment, O’Donnell was sworn in and joined council for the remainder of the meeting. He was also unanimously appointed to the Saucon Rail Trail Oversight Commission later in the meeting.

“I absolutely believe this needs to be a two-way conversation (with the citizens),” he said. “There needs to be a dialogue…Citizens aren’t typically engaged unless there is a crisis or issue. I’d like to change that.”

IN OTHER NEWS

Hellertown Library Career Opportunity

The Hellertown Area Library is looking to hire a part-time circulation assistant and adult program coordinator. Applicants should email director@hellertownlibrary.org.

Police Department Event

Hellertown’s National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Dimmick Park. Hellertown Police Chief James Baitinger said the department is seeking sponsorships for the event. “We want people to be involved. We’re going to have all kinds of fun activities,” the police chief added. “We’re going to be pushing hard to have a big attendance.”

Pennsylvania Cell Phone Law Update

Baitinger also noted that a new state law regarding cell phone use while driving took effect June 5.

Known as “Paul Miller’s law” in recognition of Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer on Rt. 33 in Monroe County in 2010, the new law prohibits the use of hand-held devices while driving, including while motorists are stopped temporarily due to traffic, at a red light or for another type of delay. Using a phone with Bluetooth technology to talk via speakerphone in a vehicle that is being driven is still permitted, but physically handling the phone is not.

“For the first year, it is strictly a warning system; you can’t get a fine. But after that, it is going to be a primary offense,” Baitinger said. “So, if I’m driving down the road in the police car and I see you texting–even at a stoplight–I can pull you over for that reason.”

“Distracted driving kills,” he added. “People think that they can look down…(but) it doesn’t take long, you look up and there’s a collision. The law has been recently changed for a great reason.”

The next Hellertown Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16 at 7 p.m.