Awards flew around like frisbees at the Feb. 6 Bath Borough Council meeting.

Taylor Munoz, representing state Sen. Mario Scavello’s office, presented the Martson District Guest Royalty Award to Dunkin’ Donuts of Bath. The award is given to businesses that have distinguished themselves in customer service, best-tasting food and beverages and cleanliness of the business. Owner Prasad Chalikonda and manager Maulik Patel were on hand to receive the award.

Another award ceremony from Scavello’s office was to honor the citizen who alerted Colonial Regional Police Department that a bank robbery was taking place in the borough. Police Chief Roy Seiple, Sgt. George Cuchran, Munoz and Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito presented the award to Natasha Sargent, who alerted police to the crime.

The criminal was quickly apprehended.

Seiple said when the gentleman was asked why he tried to rob the bank, he promptly replied, “I needed the money.”

The ceremonies ended, and the task of governing ensued - with a marked reduction in pleasantry. Lehigh Valley Planning Commission presented its plan, at council’s request, to tackle the decades-old issue of parking in Bath. A study will be conducted; the issue was stimulated by the proposed mixed-use ordinance. The ordinance, introduced several months ago, triggered a hostile meeting - in part because of parking challenges. Then, President Mark Saginario tabled the process until more data could be assembled. The study will occur over the next six months. A survey is available at the borough office for residents’ input.

The packed room’s temperature escalated when the topic of the new municipal building was introduced by Saginario. His presentation reviewed the plans to relocate the municipal building to a new location. Emotions rose when the plan for the Bath museum was discussed. Markedly, less room for the museum is allocated at the new municipal building. This sparked strong discontent from members of the museum committee.

One museum committee member said, “Where are we going to put all the things we have? People keep giving us more treasures.”

Saginario replied, “We can put them in storage.”

The reply did not go over well.

A local, renowned historian, Ed Pany, of Northampton, and curator of Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum interjected

“Bath has a rich history. Bath predates the birth of our nation, the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” Pany said. “Please do not let go of your history. It is who we are.”

Saginario asked those interested in the museum to be patient.

“This is just a start,” he said. “We will work with the committee to address concerns.”

Another resident added, “The museum must be done in perpetuity. We are losing our history. People have to be educated on our history. I commend the museum committee, and we can succeed if everyone works together.”

In another matter, Saginario reported council and the borough manager are already working on next year’s budget. At this point, there could be a 2.55-mill tax hike in the 2018 budget. Council will be working to reduce the potential hike to the greatest extent possible, Saginario added.

“We will be as transparent as possible with Bath finances. We will work hard to try to avoid the tax hike,” Saginario said.