Residents of Macungie continue to express their concerns to council regarding the funds under control of the fire chief. Council President Chris Becker said he was simply unsure whether council could make the kind of full inquiry requested of them. The issue is quickly becoming a legal question.

Each year Macungie donates $40,000 to the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department. Lately those funds have come into question as the fire department's budget report showed utilities expenses normally covered by the fire company, a separate legal entity.

Romig again requested of council a "full accounting" of all accounts to which Chief Michael Natysyn has access.

"There's a less than honorable intent being pushed forward by Fire Chief Natysyn," Romig said. He fears Natsysn does not want the fire department to coexist with the fire company, the social company that assists in raising funds for the volunteer fire department.

But Becker believes council's hands are tied. Becker was able to confirm an ordinance exists requiring the fire department to present a budget report, but not necessarily in the detail Romig and others are asking for. That may be outside council's legal right.

Council member Joe Sikorksi said, "The issue is the fire department and the Borough of Macungie are separate entities. If you gather too much information they're no longer an independent entity and that might cause problems on the insurance side, the litigation side, all the way around."

A letter from Dorothy Kociuba, a former council member and active member of the Civil Service Commission in Macungie, also urged council to investigate the matter which Kociuba believes holds taxpayer dollars at stake. She and Romig both noted to council two lawsuits recently brought forward against the fire company, one of which is for its total dissolution.

In her letter to council, Kociuba said local volunteer fire companies are considered a local agency by the government and that under contract with the municipality the latter should provide pertinent records to public request.

Borough Manager Chris Boehm said Macungie Volunteer Fire Department is not contracted to the borough. They are the appointed fire support service company.

In addition, Kociuba questioned why the fire department purchased an SUV for the fire chief and whether tax dollars were used to fund this.

Macungie Borough pays the fuel costs for this vehicle, specifically by use of gas cards, Boehm said. Becker asked Boehm to look into how much money is in the budget for fire department fuel use. Boehm has already had cause to question gas use by the chief on his personal vehicle as she can see where gas is purchased.

Council member Greg Hutchison says he does not want the borough paying for the chief's personal fuel expenses, but the difficulty from that arises in how to differentiate between the chief's personal time in the vehicle and department-related time.

Becker asked that Romig hold further questions on this until council's Dec. 2 meeting so he has time to look into the matter.

Macungie Memorial Park is still under discussion as council draws nearer to making a final decision on the new zoning ordinance. Becker wants council's unanimous consent for him to report to the park that the issue of park zoning will be readdressed within the first 180 days of 2014 in order to find a reasonable compromise on the park's request.

Support was not unanimous; Nagle abstained from the vote, saying she does not know what the park wants.

Keeping the park as a residential zoning district is just not feasible, according to council and a resident who spoke out during the meeting. The park's trash bins, annual fireworks and parades are all things that make the designation inappropriate.

The Conservation/Recreation district was intended to make the park's activities within zoning regulations. Becker said he isn't sure what the park really wants but remaining an R10 is not feasible.

Council's formal assurance to return to the issue within six months of Jan. 1, 2014 somewhat addresses the fact four council members will no longer be present and the new council will be in these talks with the park.

The zoning ordinance designating the majority of park land as Conservation/Recreation is scheduled to be adopted at council's Dec. 2 meeting.