A cool breeze blowing from the air conditioner inside the Bath Borough Municipal borough chambers Sept. 3 was not enough to suppress many emotional outbursts midway into the meeting.

"I don't know if anyone is as outraged as I am," Councilman Michael Reph said. "Why are we applying for a grant without our [council] approval? We are putting the cart before the horse."

Reph was specifically referring to the Main Street Lehigh Valley Round 6 Grants available to boroughs. The borough's intention is to use the grant for a tri-flagpole to display the United States flag, the state and borough flag outside the municipal building.

Councilman John Kearns noted a discussion was held previously regarding the availability of grants.

"Show me in the minutes. We have not discussed this before," Reph said.

Council President Robert Fields commented that the issue of the grant application has resulted in an ongoing conversation.

"Show me a copy of the minutes," Reph said again.

"Let me finish." Fields said. "We would have been out if we didn't apply [for the grant]."

As Reph and Kearns continued their heated debate Fields pounded the gavel several times shouting, "That's enough."

Council Vice President Mark Saginario clarified the issue Reph appeared to bring to the table was a matter of a procedure.

Borough Manager Thomas Petrucci commented he made a mistake by not making the item more specific on the agenda.

"There was a timeline to apply for the grant, my mistake," Petrucci said.

Councilwoman Kathryn Roberts and Fields supported Petrucci.

"The borough manager can exercise as much discretion. He has done an excellent job," Roberts said.

"There is no mistake," Fields added.

"I feel boxed in here," Reph said.

After Kearns made a motion, council accepted the grant by a vote of 4-2.

Councilwomen Carol Bear-Heckman and Roberts, along with Fields and Kearns, voted to accept the grant. Saginario and Reph opposed. Councilwoman Jennifer George was not present.

Council left discretion for the location of the flagpole to the parks committee.

Also, council unanimously voted to grant Petrucci discretionary authority to pursue future grants.

In other business, council unanimously passed a motion to temporarily restrict the flow of traffic and allow parking on both sides of Green Street for Community Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 5.

Also at the meeting, Petrucci announced the borough received one bid for the asphalt paving repair project. The bid, in the amount of $59,113 and a unit price of $200 per ton, was awarded to Bracalente Construction Inc.

The proposed streets and bid costs for the asphalt repairs are McIlhaney Avenue at $25,766, Allen Street (up to the stop sign) at $16,800, Bridge Street at $9,861 and Helfrich Street at $6,686 for a total amount of $59,113.