At its late November meeting, borough council members had agreed on a budget and to adopt in at the Dec. 1 meeting.

But instead they held off the budget decision until other matters were discussed. They paid bills, noted tax collections for the year are behind, and upheld a longstanding borough tradition of refusing to own retention ponds because it lacks the resources and equipment to maintain them.

Also ventured at one point was a rumor that Bethlehem was soon going to raise the borough’s water and sewer rates. Director of Water and Sewer Resources Ed Boscola responded to this the following day, saying there is no planned rate change likely through 2016. He said changes to the rates for customers outside the city still require an application to the Public Utilities Commission, a process that can take up to a year.

Boscola said the city doesn’t need PUC permission to raise sewer rates – they can be done with a city council ordinance - but Freemansburg and other municipalities are technically bulk customers and so pay low bulk rates, which are adjusted by individual municipalities.

But this was merely a preamble to the budget talk, which, when finally raised, was taken to a closed-door session for a whopping 90 minutes.

When they returned, President Homer “Bud” Lorrah said, “We made a decision-” but was cut off by attorney Jamie Kratz, who corrected, “Well, you talked.”

Lorrah nodded. “We didn’t make a decision. We talked.”

Council then voted 5-1 to pass a $1,598,936 budget, the sole holdout being Rudy Gallich, who said he isn’t satisfied with proposed employee raises.

Next they approved 6-0 for property taxes to remain untouched at 16.26 mills.

And then Lorrah called for a motion to adjourn. It was two-and-a-half hours after council derailed the official agenda.

The budget is passed, but there is still be much to discuss, said council member Jim Smith, and they will be meeting again for a workshop Dec. 15.