Maintenance was the big subject of council's July 21 meeting. Maintenance of its fire department, the streets and Union Cemetery.

Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan Rossi suggested to council the hiring of Palmer Township Fire Marshal Jimmy Alercia to fill the same position for the borough. Rossi and Manager Judith Danko had been searching for someone to fill the post and Alercia's qualifications and willingness make him ideal. Danko added Alercia said he is willing to perform the duty – which normally consists of code enforcement and investigating the cause of fires – free of charge.

They said they will meet with Alercia to discuss details.

Council also proposed for discussion an ordinance regarding trailer and large vehicle parking on streets when facing snow removal and emergency vehicle movement. It was immediately tabled for later discussion. Meanwhile, council did approve a motion to make a temporary repair to the damaged culvert at Market and Juniata streets. Worried weather would once again interfere with a lengthy street project, council agreed contracting a patch for no more than $1,500 would do for the time being.

Resident and cemetery caretaker Charles Derr said legal and financial issues regarding Union Cemetery may soon require action by council. Care of the old cemetery, and who is responsible for it, has been an issue for the past two years and his concern is mounting as funds for its continued care dwindle.

Derr said historically Union Cemetery was used by Trinity UCC and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, but Trinity folded and the property was sold to a nondenominational Allentown congregation which had no connection to the cemetery. The United Church of Christ has made no move since to support Union Cemetery and the Lutheran church is meeting only its expected payments, which cover one-third the cost of upkeep.

Derr explained he separated from those churches many years ago, but he continues to pay the bills and make arrangements out of service to the community. "I'm just a volunteer making sure the grass is cut and people get buried." He said the payments from Lutheran and funds from perpetual care – longtime arrangements for continued maintenance of some cemetery plots – will only maintain the property for the next year-and-a-half to three years.

After that, he said, "It's up in the air." Once the property is financially abandoned, responsibility for the property may default to the borough. Council was unanimous in its aversion for that eventuality, but solicitor Jamie Kratz said he would have to communicate with all the parties and research state statutes to investigate options.