Mayors and borough council members from around the region were greeted by Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. at the March 20 session of the Mid-Eastern Association of Boroughs and Townships (MECAB).

During the session, Hozza touched on a host of topics, ranging from a state municipal radar bill to the sale of state wine and spirit stores.

Coplay Mayor Joseph Bundra commented on the issue involving illegal guns, a hot topic among members of Congress as well as among state representatives and local mayors.

"I feel uncomfortable [about] taking our rights away. The paperwork is not up to par," he said. "Take guns away from the good people, bad guys have access to guns."

Saying background checks are essential for the sale of guns, Hozza said in Whitehall is located "the largest gun store in the Lehigh Valley that had a full-page ad in the newspaper prominently noting the sale of assault weapons."

Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock, a proponent of background checks for the sale of assault weapons, spoke of his recent trip to Washington at which Mayors Against Guns were present from across the country. Another session was held in Easton.

Hozza also said the township has a population of 26,738 residents and is governed by a home rule charter. It has a full-time mayor which, until a few years ago, was called a township executive.

A priority of the Pennsylvania State Mayors Association is to have the state legislature vote on a municipal radar bill. Pennsylvania is one of a few states nationwide that does not have local police permitted to use radar for traffic stops, MECAB members noted.

"What should be hot with mayors and municipalities right now?" Hozza asked.

Along with the radar issue is the sale of state-run wine and spirit stores.

According to Hozza, PennDOT is proposing to increase funding from $1.4 billion to $3 billion.

"How many of you see a monthly, quarterly, yearly report on the activity of your police department," Hozza asked. He specifically noted the crime rate, number of traffic citations issued by officers, shift and the amount of fines turned over to the borough, township or city.

Most attending said they are provided police data. Members said the Whitehall Police Department is outstanding.

Another topic addressed was energy savings and working with utilities to reduce consumption and obtain rebates for new installations, such as motion switches, new bulbs and new appliances.

In addition to Hozza, Reenock and Bundra, other local attendees included Coplay Secretary-Treasurer Sanda Gyecsek, Catasauqua Councilman Alfred Regits and Bath Mayor Donald Wunderler.