At the Northampton Borough Council meeting July 16, Councilwoman Bonnie Almond, chair of the council’s fire and health committee, made a clear statement to her peers that she believes the Northampton health board requires dissolution.

Almond noted the borough’s health board cost taxpayers about $25,000 over the past four years. She contrasted that with the fact the state would provide health services as needed to the borough for free. Almond then offered a motion to dissolve the health board to coincide with the retirement of the borough health officer this summer.

Borough Manager Brian Welsko noted a meeting was held June 25 with Health Officer Ted Veresink and the fire and health committee. At this meeting, discussions occurred to review the scope and responsibilities of the health officer and the borough’s board of health after Veresink retires over the summer.

Under the Pennsylvania Borough Code, a borough’s health board is tasked with supervising the enforcement of state health laws, Department of Health regulations and local health ordinances. The health officer or a deputy health officer conducts routine sanitary inspections of public eating and drinking establishments.

Sanitation and nuisance abatement by identifying, abating and removing public health hazards, as well as recommending rules for sanitary infrastructure such as drains, cesspools and rodent and insect infestations is under the preview of a borough board of health.

During the public comment agenda item, a resident identified herself as a member of the borough’s health board. She said she read about the issues with the health board costing borough taxpayers in a newspaper. She said she was unaware the health board was to be a “money making” enterprise for the borough.

The resident added she views the health board as a service to the residents of Northampton. If a business or resident has a health-related question, she said, they can contact the borough health officer or health board for advice rather than calling Harrisburg.

The motion from Almond was not acted on as borough Solicitor Stephanie Steward told council they have two options moving forward to address the concerns regarding the health board. Steward said the council’s fire and health committee, a committee of three council members, can meet with the health board to discuss their actions and any other matters. A council committee meeting is a public meeting.

Alternatively, council can meet as a committee of the whole at a regular council meeting that allows the public to witness the discussion, and then council can hold any action including a vote for dissolution of the health board.

A committee of the whole in a Pennsylvania borough is a meeting where all members of the borough council sit as a single committee to discuss policy, budgets and upcoming legislation in depth before taking official votes.

Council tabled the discussion and vote until after the fire and health committee meets with the borough’s health board and makes a recommendation to the entire council.

Council approved a request from Northampton KIDS Swim Club to use the municipal pool for the group’s annual picnic; this was held July 20. They also were granted a reduced admission rate for the swim team families attending the picnic.

A request from a resident for an accessible parking space in the 300 block of East Ninth Street was denied by council. Further information was requested to possibly revisit the request.

Greater Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce received approval to hold its 37th annual Uptown Street Fair Sept. 12. The approval includes the use of the borough’s portable band trailer and portable restroom. They will be charged a rental fee of $300, a delivery and setup fee of $150 and are required to provide a certificate of insurance holding the borough harmless.

In her building, land and recreation committee report, Councilwoman Judy Haldeman said season passes to the municipal pool are now 50% off the regular price since half of the pool season is over. Passes are available for purchase at Northampton Recreation Center, 1 Lerchenmiller Drive.

In his public works and sewer committee report, committee chair and council Vice President Ronald Glassic thanked public works for helping to set up last week’s Northampton Community Days festival. He added that public works plans to install new playground equipment and swings at Canal Street Park.

The next borough council meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 6 in the borough’s municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave. It is a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit northamptonboro.com to review the agenda and to access the meeting virtually.