Hellertown Detective Promoted, Library Gets $200K Donation

As of Tuesday, Hellertown detective Michael Dattilio has earned a new title.

At Monday’s Hellertown Borough Council meeting, a motion was approved for his promotion to the rank of sergeant.

“It is with great honor and pride that we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the well-earned promotion of Michael Dattilio to the rank of sergeant. This moment is not just a recognition, but a testament to the years of dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to serving and protecting our community,” said James Baitinger, Hellertown Police Chief.

Dattilio graduated from the Allentown Police Academy in July 2005. He began serving the Hellertown Police Department in 2005 and was promoted to a full-time officer position in 2009 while taking on many specialized roles.

“Since I stepped into the role as police chief, Michael has been integral in helping me navigate the responsibilities of this position. His dedication, institutional knowledge and willingness to assist in any capacity has been invaluable for both myself and the entire police department,” Baitinger said.

Dattilio was appointed as task force officer with the Northampton County Drug Task Force in 2010. In May 2011, he was promoted to the rank of detective with the Hellertown Police Department. He also served as Interim Police Chief in May 2024.

“From the very first day in uniform, Det. Dattilio has exemplified the highest standard of integrity, professionalism, and leadership,” added Baitinger. “His ability to lead by example, think critically under pressure and foster teamwork has not gone unnoticed. These are the very qualities that make a great sergeant: a leader who not only enforces the law, but inspires and uplifts who they lead.”

The Hellertown Police Department has recently begun to expand its ranks. In December, council approved a 2025 budget which included funding for the sergeant position and two additional full-time officers. Council also approved a part-time police pay-rate bump of 13 percent–up to $34 per hour. In January, the department hired Carrie Smith as part-time secretary to replace secretary Pat Tallarico, who retired.

Huge Library Donation Announced

In other business at the meeting, councilman Andrew Hughes announced that the Hellertown Area Library received an anonymous donation of $200,000 in January. “It’s the single-biggest donation (to the library) that I’m aware of,” Hughes said. He added that “if that person, that person’s family or that institution is listening–thank you, absolutely, very, very much.” Hughes said the funds “will be put to very good use” and observed that it’s “very nice to have outstanding news once in a while.” The donation comes after a challenging period of several years, during which the library was sometimes on shaky financial ground, in part due to a decision by former Lower Saucon Township officials not to renew a service contract. The same officials later sued the Office of Commonwealth Libraries for removing the township from the HAL’s service area. The lawsuit was withdrawn after a new council majority took office in January 2024, and late last year a new agreement between the library and the township was signed.

Saucon Valley Farmers Market to Open for 20th Season in May

Also at Monday’s meeting, council paved the way for the Saucon Valley Farmers Market to return to Hellertown for what will be its 20th season. The market’s 2025 season will begin May 4 and conclude Dec. 7. The market is held Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the field next to the Hellertown Area Library (409 Constitution Ave.), across from Dimmick Park. The SVFM features a diverse lineup of 30 to 40 vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, prepared foods, coffee, wine, honey, flowers, soap and more. It also hosts a monthly artisan market called Art in the Park as well as special events throughout the season. Live music is performed by local artists each week, with weekly attendance regularly surpassing 1,000 people.

The next borough council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall and online. Council meetings are usually held the first and third Monday of each month, but due to the observance of Presidents Day the second meeting in February will be held on a Tuesday. For more information, visit HellertownBorough.org and follow the borough on Facebook.