Walnutport officials are miffed that borough residents may be charged more to participate in an exercise class several weeks after the borough voted not to support the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority.

Mayor Wayne Weidner, who serves as president of Diamond Fire Company, brought the matter up at Thursday’s borough council meeting.

Weidner said the fire department was made aware the rec authority plans to charge borough residents who participate in the stretch class at the fire company more “because they’re saying we are not part of the Northern Lehigh Recreation (Authority).”

“We don’t want to have Walnutport residents pay more money to come to our facility and do this,” Weidner said. “We’re going to waive the fee for them to do this as long as they accept Walnutport residents.”

Weidner said what’s right is right.

“We just want to be fair to residents and not have to be charged,” he said. “They were going to charge Walnutport more.”

Borough fire Chief Michael Wentz shared his thoughts on the matter.

“We had fire company members come here that they’re not upset with what happened, but let’s all be fair,” Wentz said. “There’s going to be a meeting with the Rec Authority.”

Councilman David Stankovic said he believes that’s a good idea.

“We don’t want to see that happen with this class,” Stankovic said.

After the meeting, Wentz said a meeting between the rec authority and the fire company board will be held to discuss the usage of the fire company for the programs.

Last month, council voted to not help support the rec authority. The borough is one of the three participating municipalities.

Several weeks after that vote, the Northern Lehigh Community Center’s board of directors announced that the recreation/community center for the Northern Lehigh area could be in serious jeopardy.

The community center’s board of directors said that, along with COVID-19, was among the factors that have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the completion of the community center, located at 545 W. Church St., Slatington.