5 candidates vying for engineer's job

At Slatington's regular meeting of council held Monday night Mel Gildner, of Slatington, said that the borough's residents should be better informed about what council does and what goes on at council meetings.

"I think these are some matters the people should know about," Gildner said. "I think we should become more taxpayer friendly."

President Galen Freed reminded Gildner that the reports from the borough's various committees, officials and offices are on file in the Borough Office, and he said that Borough Manager Stephen Salvesen will be working on the borough's news letter and website. Councilman Dan Stevens added that the website could use some new photos.

In other business, Council heard presentations from five candidates for the position of borough engineer; Police Chief David Rachman submitted an annual report of the police department, which can viewed at the Borough Office; Freed was appointed to the Northern Lehigh Planning Commission as a representative of Slatington and Council accepted Marvin Olewine Jr. Plumbing and Heating's bid not to exceed $2,350 to repair the boiler in the maintenance garage.

Council voted to allow the Slatington Parks and Recreation Commission to apply for the Lehigh County Green Future Fund for grant money for a lighted basketball court that will be located in Victory Park at the current site of the volleyball court. The commission plans to move the volleyball court closer to the Northern Lehigh swimming pool. Council granted Northern Lehigh Future Focus permission to purchase banners for the new General Morgan Bridge. They will be paid for by the 2009 Lehigh County Street Scape Amenities Grant. Stevens will be applying to the 2010 Lehigh County Street Scape Amenities Grant for a bike rack, trees and benches for the parking lot at Main and Center streets and for trees and signage at the Slatington Trailhead.