The Slatington borough council discussed on Monday night various projects where they could use funds from the American Rescue Plan.

The borough has received the first installment of two of $225,405.15 this year, and will receive the second installment in 2022.

Mayor Walter Niedermeyer advocated for new equipment for the public works department, such as a zero-turn lawn mower.

“That thing is falling apart,” he said about the mower that the public works department uses. “We need new equipment, and a police car.”

Borough Manager Dan Stevens also had a list of projects that the council could consider. The zero-turn lawn mower was on it, too. The list included:

• Repairing the pavement of the Slate Heritage Trail behind the maintenance building damaged by Tropical Storm Isaias;

• Repairing the sewer trench on Chestnut Street;

• Repairing the 100 steps by the Lehigh River;

• Purchasing and installing a security system at the amphitheater, and;

• Getting the stumps at Victory Park ground out.

The stump grinding was already on the council’s agenda under the Human and Community Services committee report. Council member Jason Ruff read the motion to approve the project to have at least 24 stumps at Victory Park ground away at $140 each for a total of about $3,360. The council approved the project and to use money from the COVID fund to cover the cost.

One of the areas that the money can be spent on is loss of income to the municipality.

Stevens said in an interview that if a municipality doesn’t have an income gain of 4.19%, the difference between its actual gain and the 4.19% is considered a loss of income. For Slatington, that loss is about $83,000.

At the meeting, council President Bryon Reed said, “We need to keep track of this COVID money as we spend it.”

E&S Lawn Service in Slatington has been hired to do the stump grinding, which will be done soon, Stevens said.

In other business, a motion was passed to approve revising the ordinance relating to powers and duties of the borough manager. The council also approved a resolution giving the borough manager the authority to purchase supplies and equipment up to $5,000.

The council approved hiring Christopher Pforter as a full-time police officer. Pforter has been working for the borough as a part-time officer.

Police Chief David Rachman said bringing on Pforter full time will be help the department. He plans to fill the part-time position with a new hire.

The council approved the purchase of a communication radio for reservoir #4 at the sewer treatment plant for $2,450.

Stevens said the radio is a backup for the wireless system that was installed last year.

Stevens said they decided to have a backup radio, because a lightning strike in July knocked out the wireless system. The sewer treatment plant is covered by insurance, so the cost of the radio will be covered through insurance proceeds.

Council member Ronald Kratz, chairman of the water and special sewer committee, said for informational purposes only that emergency repairs were needed for the backhoe at the water plant. The estimated cost is $9,000 to $10,000.

Stevens said in an interview that the hydraulic pump stopped working. When the crews looked into the repairing the pump, they discovered that the water pump was going bad, as well.

Both needed to be replaced.