Palmerton's Borough Council appointed members to the newly minted Fire Department Support Team at Thursday's meeting, initiating the group's mission to increase funding for the fire company.

"On Monday night, we had the inaugural meeting of the Palmerton Municipal Fire Department's Support Team. Under the bylaws, it is required that the borough council makes some appointments to that support team," Council Vice President Kris Hoffner said.Assistant Fire Chief Jason Behler will serve as president, with Hoffner as vice president, borough manager Rodger Danielson as secretary, and Shea's Hardware owner Bernie Shea as treasurer. David Masenheimer, council President Terry Costenbader, and Fire Chief Dennis Behler will also serve on the team."It'll give us an opportunity to accumulate some money from donations or fundraising. It gives us a place to put the money, and the opportunity to buy equipment that otherwise we couldn't afford," Chief Behler said.Costenbader said that the establishment of the group should help to streamline funding for the fire company, cutting red tape and time.Previously, any donations made to the company went to the borough's general fund. While the donations were earmarked for the department, it did put another step between the donor and the fire department.Furthermore, it will allow the fire department to have more autonomous control over their checkbook."It'll go into our own fund, and we'll be able to write a check out when we need it," Behler said. "Plus, we'll be able to keep better track of how much money we have. We're not even sure how much money we have unless we come down here and ask."