Macungie Borough Council convened a special meeting 9 a.m. Nov. 26 to consider an amended internal affairs investigation policy and directives tied to an ongoing personnel investigation.

The meeting, held the morning before Thanksgiving, drew an unusually large crowd and quickly became tense as residents and a police officer questioned both the timing and purpose of the session.

Council’s legal notice for the special meeting, posted in The Morning Call and on borough sites earlier in the week, limited the agenda to two items: the revised internal affairs policy and a directive requiring employee participation in a pending investigation. Council voted at the start of the meeting to remove all other agenda items, restricting discussion to what had been advertised.

Residents repeatedly asked why the meeting was held 9 a.m. on a weekday rather than during an evening session already scheduled for Dec. 1. Council’s solicitor said the borough met all legal notice requirements and the timing was tied to personnel-related deadlines that could not be discussed publicly.

Attorney Christopher Gerber, from Lamb McErlane PC, attorneys at law, serving as labor counsel, presented the proposed internal affairs changes as a “tune-up” meant to clarify the roles of borough council, the mayor and the police department, and to align the policy with Pennsylvania case law. Gerber emphasized council, rather than the mayor, holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the police department operates constitutionally and may designate a qualified outside investigator when necessary.

Several residents and officers voiced strong objections, including Macungie Police Department Cpl. Michael Mullen, who argued the policy was “not fair and impartial” and would allow council to select investigators with potential conflicts of interest. Others accused council of consolidating power and acting without transparency.

Council members and their attorney rejected those claims, stating the process has followed the law and details of the ongoing personnel matter cannot be disclosed.

The borough is preparing for leadership changes as former Upper Macungie Township manager Kalman Sostarecz steps into the assistant borough manager role and is set to become borough manager Jan. 1, 2026.

Council was expected to revisit related issues at its regular meeting Dec. 1.