Hellertown Council Discusses Hometown Hero Banners, Parking Study

Editor’s note: The Hometown Hero banner referenced in this story was hung on May 12. A contributed photo of the banner being attached to a utility pole appears below. The banner features a photo of U.S. Navy and World War II veteran Paul W. Yonney, and was hung by his son, Hellertown Public Works Director Barry Yonney. The resident who objected to the banner–who did not wish to be identified–is a professor whose area of study involves research into the concept of military moral injury, which she says has led many veterans to experience feelings of guilt and shame. The resident has interviewed many veterans living with moral injury who, she says, “are supremely uncomfortable with being labeled as ‘heroes,'” and this knowledge was the basis for her objection. “It is because of my work with veterans, and my research on military moral injury, that I requested not to participate in the ‘Hometown Heroes’ banner program with my property,” she said. “They find this messaging alienating and silencing. Instead of ‘thanking them for their service,’ they tell me that they wish people would take time to listen to them, and help take responsibility for the impacts of war and violence that too many veterans have experienced intimately and devastatingly in their lives.”

At a meeting this week, Hellertown Borough Council decided to put a Hometown Hero banner back on a utility pole where it was installed before a resident’s objection forced its removal. Council also authorized a roughly $19,000 downtown parking study at Monday night’s meeting and approved waiving police officers’ member pension contributions for the rest of 2026.

Hometown Hero Banner Ordered Back Up

Public Works Director Barry Yonney began the banner discussion when he approached the speaker’s podium not as a department head but, in his own words, “as a resident and public works director.”

Yonney told council the public works crew had recently installed Hometown Hero banners on borough utility poles, including one honoring his late father, a U.S. Navy veteran who, Yonney said, served on a battleship. 

A nearby resident objected to the banner being placed on a pole in front of her home, telling Yonney, “That’s my property.” Yonney took the banner down to defuse the situation, noting his position with the borough left him in an awkward spot.

“I’ll tell you right now, next time it’s not coming down, it’s staying up–whether it costs me my job, I don’t care,” Yonney told council. “I honor every vet. They fought tooth and nail for us to have our freedom… For someone to tell us we can’t put our vets on a pole and honor them, it’s a disgrace. I’m sorry, I’m offended by that.”

Council unanimously voted to put the banner back up at the original location.

“I’m good with it, I just don’t want to start trouble,” Yonney added. 

“I’ll do it. I’ll put it up,” offered Mayor David Heintzelman, who made the motion to place the banner back on the pole. Councilwoman Gail Nolf followed up, “I love you for coming here and speaking, as you know, two members of my family are on flags… I love what you did. I feel absolutely that they should be cherished and loved.”

More information about the banner program–which is open to both Hellertown borough and Lower Saucon Township servicemen and women–may be found on the Hellertown borough website.

Police Pension Contributions Waived

Council unanimously decided to eliminate police officer member contributions to the borough’s police pension plan for the balance of 2026, effective May 17.

Council has directed actuarial firm Foster & Foster to deliver a separate report to the pension board with recommendations on a sliding-scale contribution model that would tie officer contributions to the plan’s funded percentage going forward. The waiver adopted Monday is “for relief for the balance of calendar year 2026 only,” Council Vice President Larry O’Donnell said.

$19K Parking Study Authorized

Council voted to authorize a seven-task parking study along Main Street, Water Street and one block in each direction along Front Street at an approximate cost of $19,340. O’Donnell said that in 2008, a study found the borough had adequate parking, but that recent and future development in town could lead to higher demand for spaces. 

“Now, things have changed, the traffic volume has changed, business and warehouses…there are more restaurants on Main Street,” O’Donnell said.

“The issue with parking in the borough is not going to go away… The business owners, especially on Main Street, are screaming for some relief,” he said. “Traffic is going to get worse, that’s just how it is… We need to be prepared, and I think a parking study is a good first step.”

Rieger Floats Repealing Sidewalk Ordinance Entirely

Councilman Tom Rieger told Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Terri Fadem he supports her current approach to sidewalk enforcement but added, “If this continues, I would be in support of repealing the sidewalk ordinances in its entirety.” Rieger argued that sidewalk maintenance is fundamentally a property-owner responsibility and called the borough’s current efforts “an undue administrative burden.”

Rieger said he was “not a fan of unfunded mandates.” Councilwoman Gail Nolf moved to add the discussion to a June council meeting agenda.

Nolf and Rieger then went back and forth over what a “meaningful discussion” of the subject might entail. “I don’t think a meaningful discussion could be had when the other side of the opinion doesn’t want to be listened to,” Rieger said.

Heritage Day, Music in the Park and Library Updates

On Heritage Day–scheduled for Saturday, May 16, rain or shine–O’Donnell said events will be split between the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill on W. Walnut Street and the Heller Homestead on Friedensville Road (Water Street), with shuttle buses connecting the two sites and additional parking available at the middle school and the former Rite Aid lot on Main Street. 

The event will include classic cars, a petting zoo, a beer tent and multiple music acts, including the Allentown Band and the Saucon Valley High School Marching Band.

Just last year, the historic Grist Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which O’Donnell called an extra reason to celebrate.

Councilman Matthew Ward announced that the annual Music in the Park summer concert series will kick off Sunday, May 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dimmick Park with the Castaway Band. Plenty of food and beverage vendors have been confirmed.

Councilwoman Cathy Leibensperger reported that the Hellertown Area Library Board is joining the Spark program, giving cardholders access to roughly 1.4 million pieces of literature from surrounding community libraries. 

The library’s book sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at the Dimmick Park Pavilion, with donations now being accepted and volunteers needed for both setup and the day-of-sale. The Saucon Valley Community Yard Sale sponsored by Saucon Valley realtor Trish Husted will be held the same day. Music in the Park with library involvement is scheduled for Aug. 23.

The next Hellertown Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall.