At its Jan. 5 meeting, Bath Borough Council held its reorganization meeting followed by the monthly council meeting.

In the Bath Volunteer Fire Department report, department leader Anthony Kovalovsky said there were 49 fire calls in December, with the total fire calls for 2025 at 457. The number of calls during 2025 is considered a record high number for a calendar year.

The Bath Fire Department provides volunteer fire services and emergency response services to Bath Borough and nearby communities. The department formally registered as an organization in 1992 as an IRS nonprofit organization.

The department’s facility at 121 Center St. is staffed by about 30 active volunteers. The department not only responds to emergency incidents but is also involved in borough community events such as the Old Home Weekend, the Halloween parade, the annual Santa Run and more.

Like many small Pennsylvania boroughs, Bath’s Fire Department is rooted in the volunteer fire company model. Local residents provide fire protection with community support and fundraising. The fire department is designated as the town’s fire protection provider with the Pennsylvania State Police handling policing and the Bethlehem Township EMS providing advanced medical services.

The Bath Fire Department is fully supported by borough council and the Bath community and receives support from the Bath Social Club.

Council voted to authorize the borough manager to send JP Mascaro a certified letter requesting a municipal solid waste contract extension into the fifth-year contract, with a price increase of 1.5% from 2026 rates.

Council approved the borough backing and cosigning the Bath Borough Stormwater Authority Pennvest application for a low-interest loan of up to $1,000,000 for the state Department of Environmental Protection-required MS4 pollution reduction plan capital projects.

An agreement between Bath Borough and Northampton County Tax Collection Committee was authorized by council to provide file storage space for TCC’s operations.

Resolution 2026-001 was approved to reappoint Suzette Campos to the borough’s zoning hearing board.

After much council discussion and complaints from residents objecting to the suggested ordinance that would make Elm Street one way from Broad Street to Wolf Street, council decided to table the vote on ordinance 2026-740 until next council meeting.

Council authorized ordinances 2026-741 and 2026-742 to be advertised. Ordinance 741 adds no parking/stopping restrictions along the north and south curb lines of Barrall Avenue from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street. Ordinance 742 removes an accessible parking space at 518 Penn St.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at borough hall, 121 S. Walnut St. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit bathborough.org or call the borough office to review the meeting agenda and to access the meeting virtually.