Hellertown Council to Consider Fire Tax Increase

Monday night’s Hellertown Borough Council meeting covered a lot of ground. The meeting convened with Council Vice President Lynley Solt presiding instead of Council President Thomas Rieger, who along with Mayor David Heintzelman was absent with prior notification.

Fire Stipend Program Awaits Final Vote

Solt noted that council recommended moving forward with daytime stipend coverage at the volunteer department as part of the 2026 Dewey Fire Company committee recommendations.

According to Solt, the program would provide for a minimum of three firefighters during daytime hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, at an estimated cost of approximately $78,000 annually. To cover the expense, the committee is recommending a one-mill fire tax increase.

The final vote on the stipend policy, the fire tax ordinance and the 2026 budget will take place at the Dec.1 council meeting.

A representative from Dewey Fire Company attended the meeting seeking clarification on the timeline.

“The earlier we get this approved, the more successful we’re going to be with recruiting people to start that program starting Jan. 1,” the representative said. “We just can’t throw this together last minute.”

Council noted that the budget process is “defined by statute,” with specific timelines that must be followed.

Council Votes to Scrap Failing Time Management System

In what became one of the evening’s more substantial discussions, council unanimously voted to pause the borough’s employee time management system immediately, directing staff to research a comprehensive replacement by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The system, implemented through the borough’s payroll vendor, has been plagued with problems since its rollout. Councilman Andrew Hughes provided context, explaining that the system was originally adopted following issues in the police department back in 2023, where “some technical controls were lacking.”

Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft acknowledged the ongoing problems. “From the beginning, we’ve been having issues with it,” Hartranft said. “First of all, it takes too long to process… There are some days we can’t log in.”

New Finance Manager Lisa Carl, whose first full day was Monday, offered her initial assessment. “I learned payroll today… it’s a lot of manipulation,” she said. “So, it’s really not doing what you’re hoping that it does.”

The motion to pause the system while researching alternatives passed unanimously.

Main Street Tree Removal Shot Down

Council addressed two requests from property owners on Main Street who recently sought permission to remove trees damaging their sidewalks without being required to plant replacements.

Councilman Larry O’Donnell spoke from his planning commission experience. “We’ve always been advocating for the replacement; a one-to-one replacement of street trees,” he said. “If a street tree exists, a street tree goes back… Even some business owners along Main Street have been trying to put in potted trees, which almost always inevitably die. When those issues come up, the planning commission has always, at least in the past couple of years, said ‘nope.’”

Council denied both waiver requests.

Around Town

Engineer Bryan Smith provided updates on several borough projects. The upgrades to Gregory Park are nearing completion, with fence work underway, and Reinhard’s Park concrete work continues, weather permitting.

Solicitor Mike Corriere reminded attendees that a public hearing on Sheetz’s liquor license transfer is scheduled for Monday.

Junior Council Representative Adeline Solt announced that Saucon Valley students will be off Nov. 24-28 for Thanksgiving break. The high school choir will perform at Light Up Night in Dimmick Park on Friday, Nov. 28, with alumni invited to join.

Looking Ahead

The Dewey Fire Company Auxiliary announced several upcoming events, including Photos with Santa on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event offers traditional backdrop sessions at $30 or photos with an antique fire truck at $45, with both options including five edited photos. A vendor bazaar with bake sale and kids craft table will accompany the event. The auxiliary will also host a live Christmas tree sale, which will open at Light Up Night from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.