Northampton Borough’s coveted Cement Bag Award will be presented to a borough resident at the annual banquet, to be held Dec. 14 at Northampton Banquet and Event Center. The dinner is usually coupled with a State of the Borough address, given by borough Manager LeRoy Brobst.

The identity of the 2018 honoree will not be disclosed until the event, a dinner at which borough employees and others aligned with the borough are also recognized for their dedication to the community.

Jack Harhart, active with many community projects, including Northampton Exchange Club, was the 2017 Cement Bag Award recipient.

Brobst said the borough received a $51,463 check from Pennsylvania Municipal Health Insurance Cooperative for the 2017 surplus claim fund distribution. Combined with a check received in May, the surplus return totals $205,829.

The borough council meeting that was scheduled for Nov. 15, at which the administration was to present the tentative 2019 budget, was canceled because of snow. It was rescheduled for Nov. 29. Council will vote on the budget in December.

Brobst said progress is being made at two buildings converting structures into apartments. The former Tama clothing manufacturer and the decades-old vacant Central School, both on Main Street, are undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Brobst said he could not say if the work will be completed by the end of December.

Brobst said public works personnel performed well dealing with the aftermath of the recent snow and ice storm.