Weatherly borough council members have reopened a debate about what time the council meetings should be held.

Councilman Jeff Miller told members that his work doesn’t allow him to attend meetings at 4 p.m. and asked that the meetings move to “5 or 6.”

After discussion, a motion was made to place the meetings at 5 p.m. Council voted 6-1 to change the time, with P. J. Hadzick opposed as he wants the meeting to be held earlier.

The borough will borrow $70,000 to complete the rehabilitation of the electric substation - funds to be repaid from electric company proceeds.

Council approved putting specs out for bid on paving Norman, Church, Entwistle and Rebar Streets and Monroe Court.

There was discussion about losing Truist Bank, which will close its local branch at the end of March. While the borough is not directly able to do anything about the closure, officials have reached out to “a few banks ... and there is some interest” in one of them establishing a branch here, borough Manager Harold Pudliner said.

Public comments included questions about any renovations to the former borough building/train station, and about the Schwab School.

Contact will be made with the owner of the train station to learn of any plans for it. As for the Schwab school, a question about whether the old school gym could be saved was met with a “no.” The gym has no roof, and the whole annex area would be best as parking for whatever use the original high school is restored.

There are efforts to attract federal money for restoration of the building, starting with replacement of its roof which will cost well over $100,000. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has been invited to visit.

Electronics recycling days were set for June 3 and Sept. 28.

An application to vacate the portion of Blakeslee Street from 6th Street east, a paper street, was approved as long as the applicant pays all expenses.

In order to connect a new home on Fritz Lane in Lehigh Township into Weatherly’s electric system, council approved a resolution that asks the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to approve this action.

Council member Vincent Cuddeford II, a member of CFC#1, reported that the members are “putting in a lot of training” on the new truck.

Nine volunteers, on average, turn out each call. The Rapid Intervention Team has been busy with medical assists.

This led to a discussion about how CFC#1 went out into the community during COVID for birthday greetings, and for parades. Council member Joe Cyburt thanked Cuddeford and all CFC#1’s volunteers. Council member Joe Thomas praised CFC#1, saying, “You do a good job ... We’re very fortunate.”

After an executive session, council voted unanimously to revise personnel policies which include updates to language about social media, safety, harassment, return-to-work, and drug policies. Some of these items had not been updated for 25 years.