When it was time for Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock to take the podium at the Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Luncheon Feb. 14, chamber Executive Laura Long introduced him as "the comic."

The biggest update from the Borough of Northampton is plans for a new middle school, Reenock said as he began his speech.

Reenock pointed out Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik in the audience, saying they worked together.

"I think we accomplished something that is almost like a miracle. We got the school board and the council to come together," he said.

The new middle school will put both Northampton and Kovalchik on the map, he said.

"Too bad he's making the bucks, I ain't," Reenock quipped.

Jokes aside, Reenock said the borough is "too big to be small, too small to be big."

He honored Northampton's ethnic heritage by delivering part of his speech in Pennsylvania German, translating it into English in sections.

He described some of the borough's recent successes, including the refinancing of a bond which will save money. The borough has also been the recipient of several grants.

These financial successes will allow Northampton to pay off the fire department's ladder truck and buy property on Main Street for a farmers market and minipark.

The borough is also planning to repave Laubach Avenue from 21st Street to Main Street, he said.

Plans to add a public works storage shed and salt shed are also being discussed, he said.

The upgrades to the borough's war memorial is also ongoing.

Saying it was election time and he needed to campaign to keep his job, he asked audience members to spread the word via online avenues such as Twitter.

"Maybe you could twit for me, you know what I mean?" he said. "Some people call me that. I get letters like that."

Reenock made reference to the budgets enjoyed by mayors of larger municipalities such as the City of Allentown and Whitehall Township. He said he doesn't need all their money.

"If I could just get their travel money, I could build a new town around my borough," he said.