Fountain Hill property owners can breathe a sigh of relief after the Dec. 2 borough council meeting. An ordinance adopting a 2014 budget which included no property tax increase was passed unanimously. The 2014 rate will be 5.11 mills, the same as in 2013, which breaks down into 4.63 mills toward the general fund, 0.40 mills toward library services and 0.08 mills toward the fire department.

Previously, at the Nov. 20 work session Council President Larry Rapp recommended closing a potential 2014 deficit in the general fund by cutting $61,000 from the "Patrol Officers" line in the police department budget. The cut represents the annual cost of an officer's salary and benefits.

The proposed savings would come from a reduction in payroll after ongoing legal matters involving Fountain Hill police officers James Scoble, who was charged last December with a DWI, and Grady Cunningham, who was fired for attacking a handcuffed suspect and then reinstated as a result of binding arbitration, are resolved.

Councilmember Norman Blatt protested the cut, saying, "we are making assumptions" and the legal matters might not turn out as expected. Council person Helen Halleman disagreed and expressed her concern about the existing tax burden, saying raising taxes should be totally off the table. The council approved the budget in a 6-1 vote, with Blatt voting against.

Not all fees will remain steady for Fountain Hill residents, as both the sewer and garbage fees will increase by 7 percent in 2014. Rapp added that Fountain Hill gets its sewer service from Bethlehem, which raised its rate by 9 percent. The combined sewer and garbage fee will be $234.98 for the year, up from $220.08 this year. Council members unanimously approved the proposed resolution, and the fee and budget resolutions are expected to be officially adopted at the Dec. 18 meeting.

In other news, the Dec. 2 meeting was the last for Councilmember Ed Stetch, who had not sought re-election this year. Rapp thanked Stetch for his years of service and Gifford said Stetch had done the best job leading the recreation committee that she had ever seen. Stetch thanked his fellow council members for their mentorship and said his tenure had instilled a deeper respect for the people he had served with in municipal government.

A Christmas tree sale benefiting the fire department is taking place at the Fountain Hill pool , according to Councilmember Carolee Gifford.

Mike Reid, borough resident, was appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board in a unanimous decision.

Mayor Jose Rosado was absent from the December meeting.