Lee Vogel, president of Hose Company No. 1, is trying to preserve the firefighters' history in the borough of Slatington.

During the council's meeting Monday night Vogel spoke to the board about the firefighter statue needing repair and historical documents, medals and ribbons that need to now be housed in a new location."The fireman statue has major rust on the base. It might have to be removed. Something might have to be fabricated. We're a little concerned about it," he said. The statue has been in its Main Street location since 1910 and is dedicated to the living firefighters everywhere. It is one of only two firefighter statues in the Lehigh Valley.In 1979 the statue had been in need of restoration after it was damaged by a hit-and-run driver.After the three borough fire companies - Hose Company No. 1, Springside Fire Company No. 2 and the Vigilant Fire Company No. 3 - centralized in 1984, the Slatington Library constructed a window display for the companies to keep the history of Slatington viewable.Vogel said the library is unable to store the remaining antique wooden bell patterns, record books, photographs and ribbons in its attic any longer."They are worried about insurance," he said."There are things not on display that are a part of the borough's history. Does the borough have room to store some of these things? It's something the borough will inherit anyway. There has to be a place for this stuff," Vogel said."It will only cost the borough a little time and space," he said. "There are wooden patterns that were made to cast the molds for the bell. We have those.""These are all things that are worth something," Councilman Jon Rinker said."For the record books, medals and ribbons, I think we have some room downstairs for a cabinet," Rinker said.He told the board of the 150th and Beyond Committee's plan to raise funds to build an amphitheater in Victory Park."We have $10,000 of the $20,000 we need. After we raise the money we want to put some money into Springside Fire Company and make it a museum," he said.Rinker told the board once the museum is up and running the invaluable materials can be moved to that location."If we have medals and ribbons, they should be displayed," said council President Gwyneth Jones."But where? We would have to buy a new display case," Rinker said."We could display them in the hallway here," she said.The board made a motion to store the record books, photographs and molds until the museum is up and running in addition to lending a hand in the repair of the firefighter statue with any borough means available.Other mattersBorough Hall is in need of roof repair."Paul Wright Roofing will fix the slates on the roof for $2,325. It needs 45 slates and an additional $45 will be charged for extra slate," Rinker said.The council then turned its attention to employment within the municipality.Joseph Britt was voted in as a new part-time police officer during Monday's meeting. The board also agreed to hire a new part-time ordinance enforcement officer."It's more work than Linda can do," said Councilman David Schnaars."There's more than enough work to keep a second person busy," he said.The position will be 20 hours a week at the same rate as the current officer.Chestnut Alley was cold-patched in July after a petition signed by more than 40 residents was hand-delivered at the last borough meeting."It still needs some repair," Schnaars said."We have to redirect the water flow around that corner. If we repair the alley from Franklin to Church streets it will cost the borough between $80,000 to $100,000," he said. "We are working with Lehigh Engineering for the repairs."