Former Coaldale Fire Company Chief Rich Marek, who wrote a resignation letter May 22, addressed borough council during its meeting Tuesday.

At the time he resigned, Marek cited personnel problems within the department, saying that the wives and girlfriends of firefighters were attacking each other via social media, namely Facebook.During the meeting, Marek elaborated.He said that for him, the last straw was the Coaldale Fire Company's response to a working structure fire in Lansford.Because of the ongoing problems, some of the firefighters elected not to respond, he said."That next morning I made my decision," Marek told council. "And some of them are good firefighters ... they need to remember why they're there, to serve the community."Marek said that it was a difficult decision to resign but he was "dealing with outside forces."Although he'd held a meeting with fire company members to discuss personnel issues, some people continued to "hide behind a monitor and a freaking keyboard," Marek said.Councilman Mike Doerr, who heads the fire/ambulance committee, said that he wished Marek hadn't left the way he did. Marek, who was a member of the fire department for 39 years and its chief for 23 years, said he didn't want to leave that way either.Doerr also took Council President Angela Krapf to task, complaining that she hadn't informed him of Marek's decision to resign.Krapf responded that as long as feelings were going to be out in the open, she had some things to say."We all know that some aren't happy with bringing the police back," Krapf said. "Yes, they are an expense, but for me, it's worth the money knowing that community residents are safe."She said that instead of saying negative things about the police force, council members should unite and work as a team. She also complained about Times News articles which made note that she is married to one of the officers, Sgt. Keith Krapf.The former council had furloughed the three full-time police officers in 2012; after the November 2013 elections, the newly formed council voted in April to restore the positions.Regarding Marek, council members were in agreement that a meeting should be scheduled between themselves and the Coaldale Fire Company."It does concern me," said Mayor Richard Kellner. "We need our fire department."