At their Dec. 28 meeting, Weatherly Borough Council members changed course on financing the borough budget, voting 4-3 to adopt the budget originally presented that raises the property tax rate by 4 mills.

Last month, the 4 mill increase was rejected on the budget’s first reading, with direction to borough manager to come up with a budget that would only require a 3 mill increase.

Voting in favor of the budget with the 4 mill increase were Vincent Cuddeford II, Joseph Cyburt, Theresa D’Andrea and Mayor PJ Hadzick. Opposed were Jeffrey Miller, Norm Richie and Joseph Thomas.

The tax ordinance itself was adopted on 5-2 vote, with Miller joining Cuddeford, Cyburt, D’Andrea and Hadzick.

An option on the former Schwab School building with the Alliance for Building Communities was approved, along with a lease option agreement for parking across the street.

The Alliance, headquartered in Allentown, is a nonprofit that develops and manages affordable housing in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill and Monroe counties.

Solicitor James Nanovic said they would have until May 1, 2025, to determine the feasibility of developing 30 apartments in the old school. Creating 12 additional head-in parking spaces in front of the monument grounds would be part of the plan.

Thomas voted against approving the agreement, saying he felt the old school building should be developed into a community center.

Resolutions adopting the contributions to the non-uniform and police pensions were approved unanimously.

The final item of business was a discussion of the proposed agreement with Packer Township for fire protection.

All three Packer Township supervisors attended to present their case.

Packer supervisor Susie Gerhard said that Packer had agreed to the numbers for three years, as originally presented to them by the committee set up by council to negotiate. Richie and Cuddeford said that the contract was for a 10-year period.

Packer Township supervisor Bob Selert said when they met with the committee in August, Packer had proposed numbers for the remaining years that would more than exceed the cost-of-living percentages proposed by the committee. He accused Richie and Cuddeford of refusing to negotiate and charged that Cuddeford had instructed local fire companies not to answer calls from Packer.

Cuddeford denied this, saying that they were all under Mutual Aid agreements, and are free to answer calls as they were able. “We consider it one big community,” he said. “We offered you a very good contract.”

Gerhard suggested adopting a three-year contract. She proposed to extend the contract if a grant is applied for and having a longer-term contract in place would help bring it home.

Cuddeford pointed out that Packer’s payment represents 30% of the total budget, but the township has more people and more area to cover, so it costs the fire company more. “Why don’t you guys feel you should pay half?” he asked.

In his report, fire Chief Tom Breznitsky said they are seeking a FEMA grant for a new Jaws of Life, a piece of equipment used a lot in Packer Township because of crashes, but very seldom “in town.”

He also talked about the problems the fire service is having everywhere, primarily because of the lack of younger volunteers. “All this squabbling back and forth is hurting morale.”

Hadzick asked if they would be getting back together to talk. In response, Selert said Packer Township supervisors held a special meeting, at which they authorized their solicitor to draw up papers to sue Weatherly Borough to compel them to enforce the current contract until negotiations are complete.

“I just hope something gets done before someone gets hurt,” Hadzick added.