At the Northampton Borough Council meeting March 19, Danielle Ford, the borough’s animal control officer, submitted a request for a raise because of the complexity of the role.

Ford was appointed to the position June 5, 2025, and she brings extensive experience in animal welfare. She has a lifelong connection to Northampton and is a part of a family-owned business, AfFORDable Pet Center, located in the borough.

Ford has worked on farms with various animals. Her grandmother reportedly served Northampton Borough as a past animal control officer.

The duties of the borough’s animal control officer include enforcing local ordinances and state laws regarding animal welfare and public safety. These duties include animal licensing, rabies vaccinations and enforcing laws regulating the prohibition of animals running in the borough at-large.

Ford also is asked to investigate complaints about aggressive animals, dog bites and nuisance noises, such as habitual barking. Other activities include investigating reports of animal neglect or cruelty and adding public education about treating an animal humanely.

Ford would also be called upon to manage issues related to feral cats and their colonies and addressing sanitary maintenance complaints, such as the accumulation of animal waste. Ford is not responsible for any wildlife in her borough animal control assignment.

Council tabled Ford’s request, asking she meet with the administration and finance committee. The three-person committee would then make a recommendation to council to grant or deny the raise request.

In other business, council opened bids to provide transport and disposal of de-watered sludge. All bids opened will be reviewed by the borough solicitor, who will recommend the successful bidder for council action at a future council meeting.

De-watered sludge is a processed, solid-to-semisolid material created by removing water from liquid sludge (wastewater or industrial waste) to reduce its volume and weight. The liquid removal decreases disposal costs, eases transportation and produces a manageable “cake” using methods like belt presses, centrifuges or geotextile tubes. De-watered sludge also becomes less prone to decomposition and odor.

Council approved Northampton Fire Department’s 2026 junior firefighter summer camp cadet program. The program is planned for July 6-10. The graduation ceremony will be July 11. There are 20 openings in the camp, with Northampton Borough residents accepted first. Visit northamptonfire42.com for camp details.

AfFORDable Pet Center of 2022 Main St., Northampton, requested and received council permission to have four parking spaces reserved for its planned 20th anniversary hoedown event 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16.

AfFORDable Pet Center also received council approval to have three parking spots in the back of the borough’s Center Street parking lot for Foxy’s Cradle’s kitten adoption trailer. The approved request is for May 16, June 6, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10.

Kim Gehris resigned from his position on the zoning hearing board. The resignation is required because Gehris was recently hired to be a light equipment operator for the borough that precludes him from serving on the zoning hearing board.

The next Northampton Borough Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 2 at the municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit northamptonboro.com to review the meeting’s agenda and to access the meeting virtually.