Walnutport borough officials have been told to re-evaluate their budget for the veterans memorial project.

Sherry Acevedo, Northampton County Parks & Recreation Division conservation coordinator, told council she has some concerns regarding the grant for the veterans memorial in the small park between Washington and Fifth streets.

She said that paperwork listing work that’s been completed on the memorial needs to be more detailed, so that the project is compliant.

“The contractor was asking me for the plan,” Acevedo said. “I’m feeling like there’s some confusion.”

Borough grant coordinator Michael Wentz attempted to address the situation.

“There’s been a very big lack of communication,” Wentz said.

Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker said she was concerned that no one was present to oversee the work that’s been performed.

“It sounds to me like we have contractors going down there and doing whatever they want,” Hunsicker said. “It’s definitely not compliant.”

Further, Hunsicker said the matter isn’t a personnel issue, but rather, a borough issue.

“I have a right to express my concerns,” she said. “This is a borough grant.”

Hunsicker continued to express her frustrations with the matter.

“I am trying to keep us from getting out of trouble,” she said. “It is not ADA compliant.”

Acevedo suggested that council should ask Lindsay Taylor, executive director of the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, for assistance due to her background.

Taylor, who was also in attendance at the meeting, told council she was available to assist them in whatever manner she can.

“Your costs are 100% ineligible at this point,” Acevedo said. “Please get somebody else to help you.”

Hunsicker again reiterated her frustration.

“I’m just astounded that we paid somebody to do work and it wasn’t inspected,” she said.

It was agreed that a site meeting will be held at the memorial at 9 a.m. Sept. 23.

Council’s decision comes one week after it gave the go-ahead for more work to the veterans memorial.

Among that work was the installation of stenciled concrete around one cannon, one mortar, around the monument, and behind the monument and flagpoles ($6,875); buying and planting six trees ($3,600); and the auguring of holes and installation of sauna tube for the flagpoles ($600), for a total of $11,075.

Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz noted at that time that the memorial work is being paid for through a combination of money from private and public donations, moneys from the Centennial Committee, as well as in-kind services so that the borough’s 50% match is totally covered.

The grant money will be satisfied by Dec. 1, as the project has to be completed by December.

In July, council agreed to spend an additional $2,700 for concrete work that includes an ADA ramp.

That came after council in June agreed to spend up to $2,500 for concrete work at the memorial.

Also in June, council received a pair of donations that totaled $3,000 toward the memorial; one a $2,000 check from the Diamond Fire Co., and $1,000 from the Diamond Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary.

Several members of the 2009 Centennial Committee attended a council meeting in April to discuss the use of about $11,000 that was set aside in the Centennial fund for improvements to the memorial.

Committee member Doneta Merkle told council at that time the wish of the Centennial Committee is for those funds to be used toward the memorial.

Michael Kukitz, who served as executive director of the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority until he resigned in March, obtained the grant for $23,983, funded by a grant through the Northampton County Livable Landscapes Program, Northampton County’s Open Space Initiative.

The work will include the removal of trees and putting in new decorative trees, flagpoles, benches, lighting and improved access to the memorial.