Slatington drops borough manager

The borough of Slatington welcomed new faces to the council, said goodbye to its manager and appointed a new attorney during Tuesday night’s reorganization meeting.

Newcomers Russel Hallman, Daniel Stevens and Jared Michael Kern joined Jason Ruff, David Schnaars, Joseph Wechsler and Bryon Reed on council after being sworn in by Magisterial District Judge Tom Creighton at 6:45 p.m.

Stevens was named board president, with Ruff appointed to vice president.

Reed kept his role as president pro tem.

Jack Bechtel, chair of the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the new board, requesting the council keep Judith Danko on as manager.

“The active chamber members have respect for the current manager. She has been to the chamber’s monthly meetings and the Merchants of Main Street meetings. She has been involved with the community and we support her endeavors,” Bechtel said.

“She has done her part in the community. Some of the borough crew feels getting rid of her might be a mistake. She has helped with getting them the tools they need for their jobs. One thing with having a borough manager this year has shown how much we need one. Things got done this year. Judith has done a good job for the borough. You should consider renewing her contract,” he said.

Schnaars made a motion to approve the employment agreement for Danko, but the motion failed after it was not seconded by another board member.

“I’m asking the current council to be able to discuss my current contract,” Danko said.

Stevens denied her request.

“At this time I’m due my severance. I’m asking for a motion from council to pay it. There is an option in our contract that I would have 30 days’ notice,” she said.

Stevens said it could not be discussed since the borough did not have a solicitor present.

Danko also requested to be able to pay for her health insurance out of pocket for February as the borough does not have a COBRA option.

“I pay at the first of the month, January is already paid. I’d be picking it up in February,” she said.

Stevens again said the issue would have to be discussed with a solicitor.

“You must understand this is my life,” she said.

“I have at least eight sets of minutes stating I did a good job. I’d appreciate a good reference moving forward. It’s imperative, especially with all the infighting in the borough,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s understood how much an employee’s life and livelihood are affected by all the infighting,” Danko said.

“I’m very disappointed no one gave me a chance to come in and speak with them.”

Schnaars personally thanked Danko for her year in the role of borough manager.

The meeting was conducted without a solicitor. Thomas Dinkelacker, of Dimmich, Dinkelacker & Anewalt PC, submitted a resignation letter following the last December meeting. The new board had already reached out to former solicitor Edward Healy before Monday’s meeting and appointed him to the role of borough solicitor, once again in a 6-1 vote.

Schnaars voted no, saying, “He stretched things out. Some of the advice he gave us was not good.”

“He has a good background with the borough,” Wechsler said.

“We let him go for a reason,” Schnaars said.

The rate to retain the former solicitor will be $85 an hour, considerably less than Dinkelacker’s $153.