Where to begin: an allegation of harassment of citizens by police, a report of possible misappropriation of funds by a former secretary, an accusation by two council members that other members are making decisons without them, a request by the mayor to replace the officer-in-charge, and a lack of response from the community, as council seeks to fill zoning board vacancies.

Eleven residents put their names in the hat for a vacancy on the Water Authority board, but no one responded to an advertisement seeking members for the zoning hearing board. Coaldale council discussed all those issues during a meeting Tuesday.What happens when a borough doesn't have people on the zoning hearing board, and a matter is scheduled to be heard? This is the case in Coaldale, where CIG Towers LLC wants to build a cell tower at the intersection of Third Street, Lehigh Street and Moser Avenue. CIG Towers seeks a variance of the setback regulation and a conditional-use application. Both matters are scheduled to be heard by the Coaldale Zoning Hearing Board at 6 p.m. June 23.But there are no zoning hearing board members. The borough will re-advertise for applicants, and will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday hoping to appoint them. If they can't?"If there are no applicants, it (the cell tower) would be a deemed approval," Coaldale solicitor Robert Yurchack told the board during the meeting Tuesday.Tuesday's special meeting would also be used to appoint a person to the water authority seat. There were 11 applicants, and council members deadlocked on votes for four (Ron Polischak, Joe Hnat, Larry Fritzinger and Mayor Joel Johnson). Five nominations were not seconded; they were for Peter Radocha, Ted Bortnick, Neil Kennedy, George Brimmer and Mark Whildin. Tony Kondertavage was nominated by a four-two vote, with Angela Krapf, Mike Doerr, Frank Hutta and Yvonne Stoffey voting yes, and Brenda Hosler and council President Thomas Keerans voting no. Councilman Harry Hontz was absent.A motion to nominate police Sgt. Keith Krapf was made by Hutta, and seconded by Hosler, but before the nomination went to a vote, Yurchak suggested it be tabled. Yurchak said he wasn't sure if Krapf could work for the borough as a police officer and also serve on the water authority.Water authority applicant Neil Kennedy, and former councilman Dave Yelito, are the two residents who filed a complaint against a Coaldale police officer. During his report, Mayor Joel Johnson said he was investigating the complaint.Johnson also asked council to replace Keith Krapf with Todd Weiss to be the officer-in-charge. Hutta asked why, but Johnson only said that he wanted "new ideas." Doerr suggested the matter be further discussed in executive session.During her report, secretary Liz Hosler said that while delving into the histories of delinquent sewer accounts, she'd found a number of questionable adjustments that were made to accounts when cash payments were made "during the employment of the previous secretary." She said the adjustments may total more than $24,000. Hosler told council she will continue to investigate as she prepares accounts for the auditor.During public comment earlier in the meeting, council members Krapf and Hosler accused Keerans of pushing Liz Hosler, who is Brenda Hosler's daughter, to resign back in March. Krapf said Keerans, along with Doerr and Johnson, had interviewed a secretary candidate from Lehighton without letting other council members know they were doing so. Krapf objected to Johnson being present, and urged council members to "run the town together."In other action, council adopted a parking ordinance, effective immediately. One of the regulations in the ordinance states that no vehicle shall remain parked on any street for more than 72 hours. A vehicle must be moved a minimum distance of 25 feet within a 72-hour period.