Slatington's regular meeting of council held Monday night in the Borough Hall was packed full of people waiting to hear Council's discussion on water and sewage rates.

There is currently an 8,000 gallon water minimum in Slatington. Councilman Paul Hoffman suggested setting a $25 residential base, a $50 non-residential base and then charging $10 for every 1,000 gallons. This was ultimately voted down by Council.George Moyer said that an apartment building shouldn't be classified as a unit. He said that each apartment in the borough should be classified as a unit."Garbage is classified as a unit. Water and sewer should be the same. Each unit should pay a base rate," Moyer said. "Shouldn't the people that's using more water pay for more water?"Councilman Dan Stevens said that if Council would adopt the plan that Hoffman motioned for, about 70 percent of the town would have a rate increase.In other business, representatives from Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool made their yearly donation request of water and chlorine for the pool."If you can't run your business profitably, we can't keep bailing you out," Councilwoman Kris Burek said. "You are a luxury. In a recession there's no room for a luxury."The pool is a non-profit organization, and it is run and maintained by volunteers."We believe the pool is a great asset to the community. When the pool goes, the community will probably never get the pool back," Ferrel Snyder, of Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool's board, said.Burek suggested that the pool goes to the other municipalities that it serves within the Northern Lehigh area to ask them for donations too. Council did ultimately vote to make the donation.Council voted to start the process of advertising for bids for phase one of Slatington Memorial Park, they voted to allow the Northern Lehigh Events Committee to hold a summer opener block party at the Walnut Street Playground, 44 Walnut Street, June 13 and they appointed Lee Andreas to the vacant spot on the water authority. President Galen Freed said that there is also now an opening on the zoning hearing board. Contact the Borough Office for more information.Burek also announced that the Northern Lehigh Community Center, 563 West Church Street, will be holding computer and electronics recycling days May 21 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and May 22 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Robert Stettner asked about the new parking signage in the municipal lots. The new signs list different times than the old signs, which are still posted. The new signs say that people can only park for three hours in the municipal lots. Stettner said that a time limit makes sense for the lot in the 500 block of Main Street, but it doesn't make sense for the lot outside of the Borough Building because it's a multi-use lot used for the playground, the magistrate and the Vigilant Fire Company. Council said that they will further discuss this matter at the next highway committee meeting, which is scheduled for May 17 at 7 p.m.