Councilwoman Julia Kutzler told Northampton Borough Council the fire department is proceeding with a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency application for funding to assist with the cost of the new fire engine. A Pierce Enforcer, it is a pumper apparatus.

Fire Chief Keith Knoblach said manufacturing of the vehicle should be completed soon, and delivery to the borough is expected in May.

The cost of the engine is $520,000, he said.

Once the truck is delivered, the fire company will add some shelving and tool-mounting elements to the truck. Following that, volunteer firefighters will begin training so the vehicle can be put into active service in June.

Also at the council meeting, held Feb. 15, Kutzler reported fire department volunteers responded to 60 incidents in the month of January.

In other business, borough Manager LeRoy Brobst reported grant writer Victor Rodite is applying for a grant to cover the cost of relining manholes in the flood plain where infiltration is a problem. The amount of the application is for $150,000. Council members approved the application unanimously.

Councilman Robert McHale said the work needed to be done is in an area of town that tends to flood and where it is also important to reduce the amount of infiltration of water into the sewer system.

“It’s important to do everything we can to minimize the amount of water that is not meant to be wastewater as a great advantage to the borough,” he said.

Councilman Ed Pany reported that recent donations to Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum include $2,000 from Holcim Inc. and $250 from the former Keystone Cement Company, now Giant Cement Holding Inc.

Councilman Kenneth Hall said work to revise a proposed rental inspection ordinance continues.

“The input from the public hearing has proven to be very helpful in the deliberations,” said Hall, who is chair of the code and police committee.

A draft of the proposed ordinance is not yet ready for consideration of the full council.

He also reported that eight of the 13 candidates for the police department have completed eligibility requirements and will be considered to fill positions in the department.

Police Chief Bryan Kadingo received council approval for the hiring of a new part-time police officer. Michael McGonigle, who recently retired from Lehigh Township Police Department, was approved. He has experience as a certified D.A.R.E. instructor.

Kadingo also suggested holding a picnic for borough officials and employees June 30.

The council voted to waive the pavilion rental fee and praised Kadingo for suggesting the event, which has not been a borough tradition for a long time.

McHale reported the borough’s sewer plant has been having problems with a foam in the basins over the last couple of years.

He said sewer plant superintendent Scott Gillespie had a sample analyzed by a microbiologist, who determined the cause of the problem is Microthrix parvicella. McHale said Gillespie is seeking a solution to the problem to combat the bacteria.