In addition to passing its 2015 final borough budget with no tax increase Monday, Slatington Borough Council also passed an ordinance signifying its intention to organize a regional recreation authority with both Walnutport and Washington Township.

A public hearing was first held in regard to the regional recreation authority ordinance that was up for adoption later, during the regularly scheduled council meeting.Two speakers stood up during the hearing to comment, both of them oft-time visitors of borough council meetings.Former Councilwoman Kris Burek said she did not support joining a regional recreation authority, stating simply that "we can't afford it" and "it's not a necessity."Mel Gildner, who had run for office previously within the borough, said he also did not support joining the regional recreation authority, citing reasons similar to Burek's.During the regular meeting, however, Councilman David Schnaars made a motion to adopt the ordinance to form the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority with Walnutport and Washington Township and adopt its Articles of Incorporation. Council approved the motion 5-1, with Councilman Galen Freed opposing and Councilman Jon Rinker not present.Slatington's financial commitment toward the future authority will be $3 per capita, or $12,696, for the next five years.Budget approvedDuring Monday's meeting council unanimously approved its 2015 budget with no tax increase and no raise in water or sewer rates.Yet, as President Pro-Tem Bryon Reed pointed out, "It still encompasses a lot of projects that will be done within the borough."I think Slatington is really in pretty good shape now financially," said Reed. "It took all of 13 years that I've been on, we've always had this bond issue hanging over us, but this year (2015) will be the last year we'll have the $793,000 payment. Next year, 2016, we'll only have a $259,000 total bond payment, so that would free up about $230,000 in sewer, rough numbers, $230,000 in water and about $70,000-some in general. So this time next year, it'll be a whole different story than it's been for many, many, many years."He added that, "This budget will support $316,000 worth of projects for the bettering of the borough ... (using) government-funded grants along with borough funds."Those projects include:• Automated Red Light Enforcement Grant of $160,100 (13 percent, with $20,500 borough match), for a traffic light at Main and Church streets.• Transportation Alternatives Program Grant of $54,930 (with $9,500 borough match), for the Victory Park sidewalk project.• Community Development Block Grant of $75,421 for resurfacing and ADA ramps along a portion of East Washington Street.Reed also said there will be new lights at Main and Dowell streets and Main and Walnut streets due to a $25,718 Green Light-Go Program (with $12,859 borough match).Other projects include: Repairs to the collection system lines, manhole rehabilitation for the reduction of inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system (utilizing EPA funds); repairs to the sewer plant; and repairs to the pump station. All repairs totaling $88,050."All the years I've been on, we've always been tight. We controlled spending and did a lot of things to try to keep going where we're going," said Reed, "but we're finally (seeing) the payoff."During that meeting, five speakers offered comments and asked questions, ranging from wondering when the borough would be hiring a new borough manager, to requesting that complaints continue to be allowed to be filed by residents even if the complainant is not directly affected by the property, to looking into putting the borough's auditing out for bid and checking into recycling performance grant money.