Coplay Borough Council, at its Dec. 9 meeting, accepted the resignation of the fire chief and approved the hiring of a replacement. The resignation of Fire Chief Joseph Britt is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Taking over the position will be Dakota Fenstermaker. Council also approved David Buchfuhrer to serve as deputy fire chief, also effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The proposed naming of Tyler Bell as assistant fire chief was tabled by council.

In another emergency personnel matter, council approved Thomas Morris III to be hired as a police cadet starting next month, pending physical agility and Nelson Denny testing at the Allentown Police Academy.

The second reading of the 2026 budget was approved. There is no tax increase in this spending plan.

Borough Mayor Joseph Bundra announced he plans to veto the budget based on a personnel issue. No other discussion was had.

First Northern Bank & Trust, Neffs Bank and Penn Community Bank were approved as depositories of borough funds. Kirk & Summa were approved to audit the 2025 financial statement.

As the end of 2025 approaches, council approved the following transfer of funds from the borough’s general fund to specific department projects:

• $160,525 for streets/roads construction

• $25,000 for streets/parking lot paving

• $9,000 for streets/roads materials

• $2,000 for office furniture

• $10,000 for the MS4 program

• $40,000 for the engineer

• $6,000 for police schooling

• $2,000 for police firearms

• $3,900 for police/community engagement

• $500 for police uniforms

• $1,000 for police vests

• $27,000 for police radio/cellular services

Also approved were the transfer of $25,000 for garbage contingency/landfill maintenance and $10,000 for a new garbage truck from the borough’s garbage fund.

Coplay Public Library received $3,898 from the budget’s building maintenance line item.

In other library business, the board resignation of Faye Schreiner was accepted, as were the continued three-year terms of both Jane Gillespie and Mil Procanyn.

A transfer of $334.27 was made from the IRT maintenance fund to the recreation fund.

Borough council approved the use of the gym, located in the borough building at 98 S. Fourth St., for aerobics classes 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in January, February and March.

Lehigh Council Juvenile Probation staff also received approval to use the gym for training last week and this past Monday.

Council approved a resolution that increased the borough’s noncontract employees’ pension contribution from 6% to 10%.

Residents at 25 N. Fourth St. and 30 N. Fourth St. requested handicap parking spaces. Council approved those requests.

Council also approved the replacement of a commercial hot water heater at the borough fire station and a heat pump compressor mini-split in the borough hall administration office.

A special budget meeting was planned for Dec. 15.

A reorganization meeting will be held Jan. 5, 2026. A regular meeting of council is planned for Jan. 13, 2026. Both will be held 7 p.m. at borough hall.