At the Feb. 2 Macungie Borough Council meeting, council filled a vacancy by appointing Stanley Landis to take the place of Todd Ritter who resigned effective Feb. 1 for personal reasons. Landis will fill Ritter’s term which was to end January 2028.

In his letter of interest submitted to council, Landis said he “served as a council member in the 1980s and served two terms as the borough’s mayor in the 1990s.” He has lived in the borough for 52 years and has served as a volunteer for a number of organizations and projects in the borough.

There was feedback from residents attending the meeting as to why the other candidate who was on the ballot could not be the new member.

The engineer gave a report on the Hickory Street bridge and Church Street. Both projects are progressing and the goal is to complete them by the end of the year. Both projects are awaiting bids and further Pennsylvania Department of Transportation clearances.

There was a discussion about fire hydrants covered with snow being cleared. It was requested if a resident lives near a fire hydrant, the resident should create a 3-foot radius around the hydrant for safety reasons.

It was also mentioned sidewalks are to be cleared at a person’s residence including corners.

Resolution 2026-05 was adopted appointing Borough Manager Kalman Sostarecz to the Lehigh Tax Collection Committee pursuant to Act 32 of 2008. Act 32 requires the governing bodies of school districts, townships, boroughs and cities that impose an earned income tax to appoint one voting delegate and one or more alternate delegates to be their tax collection committee representatives.

An alternate is needed but it will be investigated if the person has to be an active member of the local government.

The sewer project has received a grant of $348,000 which is to be matched by the borough. The total of this project is $409,000.

A motion was made to authorize the tax collector to conduct in-person hours at the Macungie Institute per the requirements of the local tax collection law in coordination with the borough manager and the Macungie Institute coordinator.

The law requires the tax collector to be available in person to collect taxes three days of each week during the last two weeks of each discount period. Tax collector Melanie Carwell has requested to utilize the Macungie Institute during the following time period:

•2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 17

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28

•2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20

•2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24

•4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27

Dr. Geoffrey Whitcomb attended the meeting and introduced himself. He is the Democratic candidate running for state representative for the 187th Legislative District.

The 187th district covers parts of Lehigh County, including Macungie and Alburtis boroughs and townships such as Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie, Weisenberg, Lynn, Heidelberg and Washington.

Whitcomb asked for input from residents as to what they would like to have the state do for their community. Traffic and roads were mentioned.

There was an executive session held on personnel issues.