Slatington Borough Council has listened to residents who urged them to continue funding a regional recreation program.

Council voted 5-2 Monday night to continue funding the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority next year. But they will donate $2 less per resident than they did in 2020.

The recreation authority provides programs for Slatington, Walnutport and Washington Township.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, residents showed strong support for the program. More than 50 residents contacted council before the meeting, urging them not to defund the recreation program. In-person attendance at the council meeting exceeded the capacity at Vigilant Fire Co., which was limited to 30 people.

After hearing from several residents, council agreed to provide $5.50 per resident in 2021, or $22,276. That was less than the $7.50 per resident the borough provided this year.

Residents said that it would be a mistake to eliminate funding for the recreation authority, which provides summer recreation programs, the Candy Cane Hunt, Trunk-or-Treat, Food Truck Fest, senior exercise classes, along with many other outdoor activities.

Paul Gass said that people want to move to areas where there are activities available for their families.

Michelle Gass said the funding is needed to retain the current executive director. Gass said Lindsay Taylor’s expertise will allow the commission to obtain grant funding to continue supporting recreation in the area.

“Please think hard on eliminating recreation because we really need it, and we need a full-time leader,” she said.

Ed Bechtel said the three municipalities coming together to fund the recreation authority was a significant collaboration.

“The three municipalities made a commitment to each other to work together for the greater good of all the community,” he said.

The amount council approved is the minimum needed from the borough to keep the program going, according to Taylor, who took over as executive director last year. She said Slatington’s decision to reduce funding could cause Walnutport and Washington Township to also reduce their funding for the authority.

The authority has asked its members to increase funding in 2022 and 2023, because it is losing the support of a state grant which initially helped it get off the ground.

Councilman Tom Bartholomew said that with COVID-19, conditions have changed at all levels of government, businesses, and even households, and the funding increases are no longer possible for the borough.

“They couldn’t foresee changing circumstances. And personally I would never agree as a council member to sign on to a long-term thing and inflict future councils,” Bartholomew said.

Council President Bryon Reed said he never supported ending funding for the program completely. He said the borough couldn’t afford the proposed increase in funding, because of rising expenses and uncertainty over COVID-19.

Councilman David Schnaars said that following the departure of the authority’s former director, there was uncertainty that they could afford someone who would bring the required energy and experience to take the job.

Northern Lehigh input

The matter of the rec center was discussed briefly at Monday’s Northern Lehigh School Board meeting. Superintendent Matthew J. Link wrote a letter to Slatington suggesting that it continue with the funding.

Board President Gary Fedorcha said, “We work well with that recreation committee center group; we need it basically because there’s nothing for our children to do in the summer time,” Fedorcha said. “And through them, we are in correspondence and working together with them to offer summer programs.”

Link agreed.

“We have a great community partnership with Northern Lehigh Recreation,” Link said. “I think it’s mutually beneficial for our students, for their families. It’s not just programs for children that they offer, it’s for residents of all ages.”

Terry Ahner contributed to this report.