Borough council approves police grant application, police agreement amendment, handicap-parking ordinance and five-year refuse contract

The Borough of Northampton Borough Council on Oct. 15 approved a package of routine and policy items including a police grant application to buy two 2027 Chevrolet Tahoes, an amendment to the borough’s agreement with the police department, an updated handicap-parking ordinance, a five-year refuse collection contract and certifications of 2026 pension obligations.

The actions, carried without recorded roll-call tallies beyond unanimous “ayes” on the floor, set next steps for equipment purchases, a new refuse vendor relationship and the borough’s pension funding for 2026. Council also approved traffic-control support for the Nov. 1 Tucker’s Toy Run and waived the Municipal Park bandshell rental fee for a May 27, 2026 Northampton Area School District patriotic concert.

The most immediate fiscal items: the council authorized an application to the statewide Local Share Account (LSA) so borough police could pursue grant funds to buy two Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs anticipated for the department’s fleet. The council also adopted Resolution No. 1425 to amend the agreement between the borough and the borough police department for the period Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026.

Councilors approved Ordinance No. 1241, which repeals and replaces chapter 234-38 of the codified ordinances governing handicap parking spaces; that ordinance had been advertised at the Sept. 18 meeting and was voted on Oct. 15. Following review of two bids for refuse collection and disposal, the solicitor recommended awarding a five-year refuse contract to Republic Services; council voted to approve that award and directed staff to meet with the vendor to finalize operational details including pickup schedules for the Fourth Ward.

On pensions, council certified the borough’s minimum municipal obligations (MMOs) for 2026. The police pension MMO was reported as $177,715; the borough received state aid totaling $146,810.35, of which $72,922.35 will be applied to the police pension plan. The nonuniform defined-benefit MMO was calculated at $65,945 and the nonuniform defined-contribution MMO at $7,943; both were reported as fully covered by state aid.

Other approvals: the council agreed to provide traffic-control assistance for the 15th annual Tucker’s Toy Run (scheduled for Nov. 1 with a Nov. 2 rain date) and granted a waiver of the bandshell rental fee for the Northampton Area High School Chorus’ proposed patriotic concert on May 27, 2026 (rain date May 28).

Councilors who made motions and seconds were identified during the meeting; the public record on Oct. 15 does not include a roll-call vote sheet in the transcript, but the chair called the measures carried after the question for “all those in favor.”

What happens next: the borough manager and staff will meet with Republic Services to confirm service-day details (councilors specifically asked whether Fourth Ward will receive one- or two-day pickup under the new contract). The borough clerk and police department will pursue the LSA grant application for the two vehicles and proceed with any grant requirements.

The council’s next regular meeting will include continued committee reports and follow-ups on these items.