Macungie Borough Council is still on track for its zoning ordinance timetable which means putting off some negotiations until next year.

At the public meeting Nov. 4, council heard from retired Judge Robert K. Young, a member of the park board, asking council be open to coming to a "better agreement" about the new conservation/recreation district being created for park lands in Macungie. Unwilling to delay the zoning ordinance review process, Young says council should go ahead with it so the grant is not jeopardized, as it would be if council does not take action by the end of the year.

However, Young would like to have talks with council next spring about the park's concerns, such as decreasing property value on park lands.

But in a new development, Macungie Park now wants the zoning designation returned to residential, something not requested until now, confirmed Borough Manager Chris Boehm. A letter from the park to council stated the board has no intention of liquidating any property but wants the option to do so in future if necessary.

Council President Chris Becker is open to the idea, saying neither the residential nor the conservation designations are exactly correct for the park. The annual car show is a problem for it as a residential district. But at this point council has to move forward by the end of the year or do nothing at all.

The zoning ordinance will come up for adoption at council's Dec. 2 meeting with time for public input.

Tim Romig, a business owner in Macungie, addressed council to urge it to investigate the funds of the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department. Romig pointed out expenses appearing in the fire department's budget that never appeared before, such as utilities. As a member of the fire company social club, Romig reminded council the social club has always paid fire department utilities.

Romig urged council to inquire into all funds in which Fire Chief Michael Natysyn has a hand.

The borough donates $40,000 a year to the fire department, money Romig believes may have been used to fund litigation for two lawsuits filed against the fire company this year. Boehm confirmed the donation, made in two parts each year, has already been paid in full for 2013.

Romig examined budget reports submitted to the borough from the fire department since 2011, and noticed unusual expenses appeared for 2013 amounting to $8,000 for gas and electric plus $950 for legal fees.

Romig asserted Natysyn and the others suing the fire company want to see it closed and sell the property to be developed as it will appear in a Town Center commercial district under the new zoning ordinance, greatly increasing its property value.

Boehm says she isn't sure if the borough has the right to look into that information or whether the fire department is subject to right-to-know laws, that is, whether a citizen could access those records. Council member Joe Sikorski told The Press he suspected council would not have that authority.

After executive session council agreed to hire police officer Richard D. Murphy to serve as a part-time officer with Macungie Police Department.