Fountain Hill Borough Council voted 4-1 during its Aug. 5 meeting to terminate a police officer who was charged with a DUI.

"I am regrettably making a recommendation that James Scoble be terminated as a result of [his] DUI arrest and aggravating factors," said Mayor Jose Rosado before the council's vote. Scoble allegedly crashed his vehicle into a utility pole on the night of Dec. 16 last year.

Casting the lone dissenting vote, Councilwoman Helen Halleman said that "we are all human" before adding that council could "turn a life around" by not terminating Scoble.

Scoble is the second Fountain Hill police officer to be terminated this year after Grady Cunningham was fired in February.

Council was divided on awarding two new handicapped spots to residents on the 1100 blocks of Broadway and Stanley Avenue.

The requirements for a reserved spot were unclear with Council President Larry Rapp saying that a spot required a handicapped license plate while Councilwoman Carolee Gifford and Council Vice President Norman Blatt agreed that a handicapped placard along with a doctor's recommendation should be sufficient.

The issue was tabled in a 3-2 vote, at Rapp's suggestion, until council's next meeting so the borough ordinance could be consulted. Gifford and Blatt voted against the delay.

Talissa Slater and Knoxley Samms of the Union Baptist Church in Allentown asked the council's permission to use the Fountain Hill park every second and fourth Sunday from Aug. 25 to Oct. 14 between 4 and 8 p.m.

Slater said the church wants to sponsor "community physical activities" like basketball and kickball to broaden the scope of their ministry.

Council unanimously approved the measure pending proof of Union Baptist's insurance and payment of the fees associated with the use of the park.

In other business Rapp said the Delaware Avenue reconstruction is expected to progress to its second phase, taking place between Hoffert and Bishop Thorpe Streets, by Aug. 12.

Council also approved a new Uniform Construction Code in a 4-1 vote. Gifford dissented, calling a preexisting permit fees for electric water heaters outrageous.

Council members Douglas Trotter and Ed Stetch were absent from the meeting.