A complaint against a Slatington councilman has been dismissed.

Slatington Borough Council members Bryon Reed and Melvin Gildner stood before Magistrate Judge Robert Halal on May 23 for a civil complaint filed by Reed for a February incident.Reed had filled out the paperwork for harassment with a threat of physical contact complaint on March 9 against Gildner after a heated exchange in the borough office.In the document, Gildner was quoted as saying, "If I was not a Christian I would take a chair and put the leg through your stomach."According to Reed, at the time of the incident Gildner was, "Sitting at a desk behind the glass just behind the door. I was speaking with one of the women in the office. Gildner stood from his chair, saying, "'Don't talk to me, stay 5 feet away from me,' " Reed said.Gildner made his way to the phone to call the police. Reed said that's when Gildner made the threatening statement.No police action was taken at the time.Reed said he filed the complaint after he was informed by a fellow Slatington resident that, "Gildner has it out for you."Gildner pleaded not guilty to the charge.The civil matter was moved to Whitehall after local Slatington Judge Ron Beck recused himself from the case.At 10 a.m., Reed acted as his own attorney while Gildner retained Ronald E. Corkery, appearing before Judge Halal in Whitehall.Slatington Borough Mayor Walter Neidermeyer and borough secretary Karen Gill had been subpoenaed by Reed as witnesses to the incident. Both testified they heard Gildner's comment to Reed.According to Gildner, both Gill and Neidermeyer were "untruthful" in their testimony."When I was sitting there and those two people were testifying against me I was laughing because I just couldn't believe what they were going to say next," Gildner said."That's why it was so important to get a lawyer and prove my innocence," he said.The councilman said Gill was pressured to be dishonest. "The secretary needs a job, and certain people who sit on council think they own the town."Gildner said Neidermeyer has a history of "not telling the truth.""Now I know who to stay away from and who not to trust," he said."I'm the victim here. People dislike me, not because of me but because I bring out the truth," Gildner said."I told the truth," Neidermeyer said."I heard him say he was going to break a leg off and stab Reed with it," the mayor said."He is using his faith as a crutch, but he hates. I don't know what his problem is," Neidermeyer said.Reed said Judge Halal felt the statement alone wasn't enough, "that he isn't a threat to me.""I don't regret it," Reed said."I've always made a point to stay away from him," Reed said."I'm the innocent one here. He stalks me, he comes down 10 houses to my property. When he made that statement, I thought, 'This is enough.' He is so demanding and pushes his way around. People back down and he gets away with it. I don't regret filing."The judge dismissed the complaint and closed the case. Both councilmen said they would like to see the council and borough move forward.