Northampton Borough Council approved multiple personnel hires and promotions at its September meeting, moving to fill vacancies in public works and municipal relations.
The council voted to appoint Joseph Weber and Aaron Bortz as heavy equipment operators effective Sept. 5, 2025, and to appoint Robert Smale as crew chief for public works, also effective Sept. 5, 2025. The council also approved hiring Jacob Kutzler as municipal relations assistant with a start date of Sept. 22, 2025.
Council members said the hiring committee used written and skills tests and interviews in recommending the candidates. Borough Manager Brian Wasco, Assistant Borough Manager Jerry Sorensen and Public Works Supervisor Rich Ackerman recommended Weber and Bortz after what Wasco described as a “rigorous testing process.”
"After an extensive and rigorous testing process that included written and skills tests and an interview, borough manager Brian Wasco, assistant borough manager Jerry Sorensen, and public works supervisor Rich Ackerman recommend Joseph Weber and Aaron Bortz to be the next heavy equipment operators effective 09/05/2025," the meeting packet stated.
Council members made motions and approved each appointment during the meeting. Miss Haldeman moved to approve Weber and Bortz; the motion carried. Councilmember Donahue moved to appoint Smale as crew chief; the motion carried. The hiring committee recommended Kutzler for the municipal relations assistant role and the council approved his hire; one council member said during the vote that they "abstain," but the transcript does not identify that speaker by name.
The newly hired and promoted employees were not in attendance but sent their regards, according to borough staff. The municipal relations assistant position will begin Sept. 22, 2025, per the recommendation included in the meeting materials.
Council members and staff congratulated the hires during the meeting and discussed onboarding and upcoming work assignments.
Less critical details: the meeting record shows informal congratulatory remarks by council members and staff; no changes to compensation or specific job duties were discussed on the record.