At their Nov. 13 meeting, President Steve Hill advised Alburtis Borough Council members, "Because they failed to ask the surrounding municipalities, 'How many times do you respond to Lower Macungie Township?' their study is flawed." Hill was referring to the Lower Macungie Township police services study completed in November.

Council discussed in addition to the state police, Lower Macungie Township is receiving service from police departments in Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie, Upper Macungie, South Whitehall and Salisbury.

The state police have, on occasion, asked Alburtis to respond to a call received from Lower Macungie Township they could not respond to and Alburtis Fire Company also services Lower Macungie Township on a mutual aid basis as secondary responders. In some situations, Alburtis should actually be first responders as they once were, for the protection of residents who live nearby, added Hill.

In other business, Executive Secretary Sharon Trexler said because the estimates were higher than anticipated, Lehigh County Authority has been overcharging Alburtis Borough and some other municipalities. In order to rectify this situation, Lehigh County Authority has offered everyone four choices. A motion was passed to forego the borough's line of credit of $21,320, so the Authority will have a reserve and the rates will remain the same.

Council adopted Resolution No. 2013-7 appointing Councilperson David Lehr to the Planning Commission with his term expiring March 2016.

Following a brief discussion of the cost to Alburtis Borough, on a vote of 6-1 with Councilperson John Aleszczyk voting no, council adopted Resolution No. 2013-6 authorizing the application of a matching grant to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program amounting to $25,000, to help pay for the cost of updating the Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan between Alburtis Borough, the Boroughs of Emmaus and Macungie, and the Townships of Upper Macungie, Upper Milford and Lower Milford. The municipalities would be responsible to pay $25,000 between them if the grant is approved.

"We are so small we should not have to pay for much," Kathleen Raines said. Solicitor David Knerr agreed, suggesting a borough representative be present at all of the meetings on this grant request.

Trexler informed council a request was received from Recycle Local of Pa. to put clothing bins at the Alburtis Area Community Center. Clothing bins were put there in the past and were taken away because only junk items were put in them, according to Councilperson Sherryann Oels; however, she agreed to bring it up at the next AACC meeting.

Because of Thanksgiving, and several members are unable to attend, council approved changing the next meeting to 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at Borough Hall.