The proposed replacement of a fire truck led to a contentious discussion last week in Whitehall.

The township commissioners, along with department heads, met Oct. 29 for the first in a series of hearings on the proposed 2015 budget.

Commissioner President Linda Snyder and Commissioner Gerard Palagonia took exception to a proposal to replace a truck for the West Catasauqua fire station because the Egypt fire station has an older truck.

"I would like to see all the fire stations and firemen treated equally," said Palagonia, opening the discussion. "Why is a new truck proposed for West Catty when Egypt has an older truck?"

"That was my decision because it's part of the 10-year plan," said Fire Chief Bob Benner. "All of the sudden this whole situation got out of hand."

Benner was referring to an anonymous letter sent to Egypt residents telling them the township plans to replace a 1988 Hahn fire engine for West Catasauqua despite the fact that Egypt's 1979 American LaFrance fire engine is nine years older.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. and "two other commissioners of Egypt area" are proposing this purchase, the letter says. "Please call the mayor and commissioners and ask what their justifications are for not budgeting the next new fire engine or Egypt Fire Company No. 1 in next year's township budget," the letter continues.

"I think there was a lot of shenanigans going around," said Commissioner Dennis Hower, one of three commissioners who lives in Egypt. Philip Ginder, who did not attend the meeting, and Thomas Slonaker are the other two commissioners from Egypt.

"The commissioners don't propose anything," Hower said, adding that the commissioners' job is to approve items such as the budget.

"I think it's in poor taste," he said of the letter, which came with annual fundraising information.

Hozza provided the commissioners and The Press with copies of the fire truck replacement schedule. It shows the West Catty truck was scheduled to be replaced before the Egypt truck.

Slonaker asked for clarification on the functions of the trucks involved. The township plans to replace a primary truck in West Catty. The Egypt truck to which Palagonia referred is actually a secondary truck.

Palagonia and Snyder said Slonaker was speaking out of turn.

"I'm going to get the gavel. This is not Jerry Springer. One at a time, I'm telling you," Snyder said. "Commissioner Slonaker, you should have waited your turn."

"I'm sorry I'm being what you consider disruptive," said Slonaker. "I have to have this clarified or none of this verbiage means anything."

"I'd give you the facts if you'd shut up a minute," said Palagonia.

"You will get the facts," added Snyder.

"I can't get the facts so I'll just sit here," Slonaker said after attempting, unsuccessfully, to ask his question again.

"I'm not in grade school anymore," Slonaker said.

"Well, you should be," countered Palagonia.

Snyder said she was told Hozza asked to see the Egypt station's financial records and threatened to shut down the station.

"I did not," said Hozza, when asked by Commissioner Phillips Armstrong if Hozza threatened anyone.

Hozza said he asked for financial reports from all the fire stations because Egypt had expressed an interest in applying for a grant. The financials for all the stations – which fall under a single Whitehall Township Fire Department – would be necessary for a grant application.

According to Snyder, Deputy Mayor Jack Meyers said at a previous meeting it would cost $400,000 for a new truck in West Catty and the next new truck would go to Egypt. "All the commissioners heard that," she said.

Meyers said he did not remember making such a statement.

Snyder described his lack of memory as "convenient."

"Is it in the minutes?" Hozza asked.

"How rotten can you get?" Snyder said, adding Whitehall Township has become "a dictatorship" under Hozza.

"I know the power of the charter and it's being abused," she said.

"I thank you for your opinion," said Hozza. "I have nothing to be ashamed of."

"You don't like anyone who disagrees with you. You either lie about what you're telling me or you take it all and turn it around," Snyder said.

Raymond Dankel, assistant chief for the Egypt station, also attended the meeting. He said he had no problem with the truck replacement schedule.

"What we were concerned about is what we heard through whisper down the alley," Dankel said. "We'll keep what we have until it comes our turn … in 2017 and replace it at that time."

"The opinion of the firefighters and the officers of [Station] 39 [Egypt] are to move ahead. I don't think there was any dissension," he said.

"If Egypt gets the next one, I'm OK with that," said Palagonia. "But I really think the oldest one should go."

Both Hower and Benner said the unsigned letter circulated in Egypt contained inaccuracies.

According to the letter, West Catty's 1988 Hahn fire engine was modified in 1999.

"The letter said it extended the life of it for 25 years," Benner said. "That's incorrect. It didn't."

Hower said he has experience dealing with replacing trucks for different businesses.

"You can't always look at the age. There's different conditions and different needs," he said.

"I just want to make sure we're doing the right thing and there's no dissension among the firemen," Palagonia said.