New and amended policy implementation sparked plenty of debate at last week’s Lehighton Borough Council meeting.

Councilman Joe Flickinger said there are several policies being approved without council’s approval.

Flickinger said he believes that before every new policy being implemented or amended, it should have council’s approval.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire responded, “I was hired as a manager, not a messenger.”

Flickinger reiterated that he would like to see any new policies before implementation or amending prior policy require council’s approval.

DeWire said that twice he asked Flickinger to meet with him and council President Dave Zimmerman to discuss the matter, and both times Flickinger refused.

Councilwoman Becky Worthy said she believes there are a lot of times when policies are changed and council isn’t always notified.

DeWire reiterated his previous stance.

“You hired a manager, not a messenger,” DeWire said. “If you want the borough’s time and money to be wasted, push it through.”

Flickinger said, “If a policy is being created, it needs to come to us,” Flickinger said.

DeWire countered, “It would be to the point where I couldn’t make a decision. It would be like having a scarecrow (at the desk).”

DeWire said he’s there to be a borough manager and to implement policies, and that if council doesn’t agree with how he’s doing things, they can take the necessary steps.

Flickinger told DeWire that while he creates policies, he is not the governing body.

DeWire responded that he doesn’t believe he should have to sit up there after three years and justify what his role is.

Ultimately, the measure introduced by Flickinger that any new or amended policies put in place by the borough manager must be approved by borough council before implementation passed by a 4-3 vote.

Council members Grant Hunsicker, Dave Arndt, Worthy and Flickinger voted in favor. Council members Jordyn Miller, Steve Hawk and Zimmerman were opposed.