Slatington's Borough Council meeting was filled with exchanges more sweltering than the July weather.

Residents had comments and concerns for the borough starting with resident Dwight Miller of Walnut Street.Miller's concerns regarded the sinkhole by the sewer grate on Lehigh and Iron streets, the busted fence and grass that continues to grow at 250 S. Walnut St., and the blocked drain on the same street.After voicing these complaints, he turned his attention to fireworks."Is there some kind of ordinance on fireworks?" he asked.The borough does not have an ordinance and only enforces the state law."Well there are kids shooting black powder fireworks in the alleyway; the same kind used over in Emerald," Miller said.The fireworks used in the Emerald display can only be sold to licensed pyrotechnicians.Councilman Joe Wechsler said it happens every year around the Fourth of July and a lot of his neighbors do the same thing."You have to tell the cops," President Gwyneth Jones said."If you're going to complain, you have to testify about it," Councilman Glen Freed said."It's an ongoing thing between these kids," Miller said.He said he had called police but nothing was done."When you see it, you have to call the cops and catch them in the act," Councilman John Rinker said.Miller agreed and said he will be calling police in the future about the issue.Up next to the podium was lifelong resident Ed Ziegler. His first concern was that there is no parking in the lot on West Church Street and he said the issue needs to be resolved.He followed with another complaint about theft in the borough."The thievery in this town is astronomical! If you hear I shot someone it's true and I'll say the government taught me how!" Zeigler said.Rinker asked, "What was stolen Ed?"Ziegler informed the board that the batteries were stolen out of his big loader vehicle."Ed, call the cops. You have to file a report or no one knows this happened," Rinker said."I just found it out today," Ziegler said."Are we having a conversation here?" resident Carol Gildner asked."Oh, I'm sorry, are we interrupting your plans today?" Rinker said."I thought there was a protocol of a five-minute limit. Has that changed now?" Gildner said."All right, all right," said Jones, putting an end to the exchange.Next to speak was Gildner's husband, Mel, who took issue with a past meeting's minutes. "The minutes are wrong. I was accused of saying you (the board) violated the Ethics Act. I didn't say that," he said.Solicitor Ed Healy interrupted Gildner. "I was there and you absolutely did say that.""You're interrupting my five minutes," Gildner said and continued to speak. He directed his comments to Councilman David Schnaars. "Why do you keep publicly praising Wechsler? He has committed a crime," Gildner said."What crime did I commit?" Wechsler asked.Gildner continued to speak, citing a Bible verse."Yo! Yo! What crime did I commit?" Wechsler demanded, clearly becoming agitated."You are an ignorant man," Gildner told him."You are an ignorant son of a bitch!" Wechsler said.Jones broke up the exchange with gavel raps to the desk. "Enough," she said.Wechsler asked that Gildner be expelled.Councilman Glen Freed suggested they just move on with the meeting.Schnaars addressed Gildner himself, saying that Wechsler has done a lot for the community. "We need to just move on," he said.