ALLENTOWN – Borough officials have thanked a long-serving employee and recognized her for decades of dedicated service to Allentown.
During a Borough Council meeting on Oct. 23, officials saluted Alice Stanhope and honored her on 40 years of service with the Allentown Police Department.
According to a resolution, Stanhope was hired on Oct. 10, 1978, to the position of crossing guard with the police department. On Jan. 1, 1983, she was promoted to the position of police matron/crossing guard. On Jan. 1, 1988, Stanhope was promoted to the position of police matron/crossing guard/special police.
In the resolution, officials said, “Alice Stanhope has become a beloved fixture in the Allentown community as she carries out her public safety responsibilities to the utmost level of professionalism over her lengthy and distinguished career.”
Police Lt. Dan Panckeri presented Stanhope with a plaque and she received a standing ovation from Mayor Greg Westfall, members of the council and residents in attendance.
Councilman Rob Schmitt, a lifelong resident of the borough, said, “Alice, we appreciate your long service to our community. I want to personally thank you for keeping generations of residents of Allentown safe for 40 years and counting, me especially since I wasn’t exactly the most observant kid!”
In other action, council members recognized and thanked the volunteers who participated in an Oct. 6 workday to improve conditions at the Lakeview Drive cemetery. Commended for their efforts were Kaitlyn Gorczyca, Linda Lopez-Mena, Rick Lopez-Mena, Anthony Manna, Christopher McCormick, Mike McCormick, Lara Michaud, Michael Michaud and Nancy Tindall.
And, the council saluted the work of volunteers who participated in various capacities and positions during the Fall Festival on Oct. 13-14. The festival is organized each year by the Allentown Business Community Association (ABCA) and “brings thousands of visitors to the streets of Allentown to showcase all of the characteristics that make living in the borough so desirable,” according to a resolution.
The ABCA has many volunteers who work on the project under the leadership of Heather Saracen, Darilynn Pitman and Wil Borkowski. The Allentown Lions Club was recognized for its assistance with setup on Oct. 13 and its professional execution of the craft beer garden.
The Allentown Police Department, the Hope Fire Company and the Allentown First Aid Squad were recognized for their commitment to public safety and emergency response during the event; the Allentown Public Works Department was recognized for assisting with the setup and cleanup of the festival.
Public Works Superintendent Nicholas Pellichero was recognized for his added assistance with traffic control during the event; and all of the local businesses, community groups, service organizations, charitable organizations, entertainers and other volunteers who assisted in the festival were recognized for their participation in the successful event.
Also, the council passed a resolution supporting a bill that has been put forth in the state Assembly by Assemblyman Ron Dancer, whose legislative district includes Allentown.
The resolution states that A-4610, if passed in the Legislature and signed into law by the governor, would permit the registration of vacant and abandoned properties and allow municipalities to use registration fees to maintain the vacant and abandoned properties.
“Allentown has been working diligently to clean up its vacant and abandoned properties within the municipality and would benefit from the passage of A-4610,” officials said in the resolution.
And, Chief Financial Officer June Madden spoke about a possible increase in sewer rates that are paid by residents.
“We need to increase revenue,” Madden said, prompting council President Thomas Fritts to say, “Residents hear they are getting a rate increase.”
Borough officials said that in past years there was a lack of long-range planning in this area and said they have an obligation to look at the budget projections Madden has provided. They said a rate increase is not inevitable, but said if there is an increase, it is expected to be minimal.
According to information provided by Madden, the sewer budget for 2017 (actual) was $798,700 and the sewer budget for 2018 (actual) is $1,098,483. The projected sewer budget for 2019 is $1,035,820 and the projected sewer budget for 2020 is $1,064,621.
The minimum rents to be billed to support the budget range from $795,700 in 2017 to $919,621 in 2020, according to the information provided by Madden.
Finally, Schmitt said a project that will see the installation of a new water meter in residents’ homes will not be completed during the fourth quarter of 2018. He said the project is now scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2019.
Schmitt has previously said residents will be contacted by the company that is installing the new meters when its employees reach a specific street in the borough.