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APRIL 11-17, 2019
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Rental inspections concern some Cement Worker of the Month- Phillip Retter Northampton supervisors By KERI LINDENMUTH During the Northampton Borough Council’s public workshop meeting on Thursday, April 4, some supervisors expressed concerns over enforcement of the borough’s rental inspection ordinance. The ordinance went into effect this year. Borough manager LeRoy Brobst said that compliance with the ordinance is at 34 percent. A second round of notification letters will be sent to landlords who have not yet scheduled an inspection. These letters will be sent by the end of April. Brobst said that the compliance rate was about where he expected it to be. “I would have estimated a 30 percent return.” If landlords do not reply to the second notification, “then we are going to have to get ugly,” added Brobst. The township solicitor will get involved. Councilman Robert McHale expressed concern over the compliance rate, as well as the failure
rate. About 33 percent of the properties inspected thus far have failed. “I am surprised by the failure rate, after owners said there were no issues,” McHale said. Brobst said that the failures were the result of minor details. “[The landlords] that have not responded, those are the places that could be falling apart,” he said. McHale, Councilwoman Judy Kutlzer, and Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski, Sr. all expressed interest in having the borough’s two part-time zoning officers work longer shifts, or move to full-time positions. “Two part-time people working 13 hours a week cannot get anything done,” said Kutzler. Lopsonzski, Sr. said the ordinance requires a full-time officer and part-time associate. “It comes at a cost…[but it] can be a sustaining situation.” However, Lopsonzski, Sr. added that he understands why compliance and enforcement seem
slow moving at the start. “It is developing slowly because you cannot really rush into it...It is a tough job. [You are] inundated with work that is required to move this program along.” In other news, the borough will be applying for a Community Service Block Grant in the amount of $10,000 to construct a community garden on the north side of the borough’s ambulance building. The garden will benefit the food bank. The borough also received a $45,000 Monroe County Casino Grant that will be used toward constructing a pavilion at the municipal swimming pool for the 2020 season. Meanwhile, on May 10, a public meeting will be held at the borough’s wastewater treatment plant. The meeting will begin at 10 am. It is an opportunity for the public to learn about storm water runoff and why it is important to combat it. Finally, a 30-day review process Continued on page 2
Bath Area Fish Committee’s Annual Kids’ Fishing Contest by HOME NEWS STAFF Join the Bath Area Fish Committee for their 65th Annual Kids’ Fishing Contest, held April 27 and 28 at the Monocacy Creek. An opening ceremony will be held promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 to kick off the annual fishing contest, which will end at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. A bicycle will be raffled off on April 28 at
noon. The winner will receive a bike of their choice. On April 20 starting at 9 a.m., a creek cleanup and building of dams will take place. Volunteers are needed and much appreciated. Equipment will be provided. The fish stocking will take place Friday, April 26 at 4 p.m. Donations are now being accepted to purchase fish for the
stocking. Donations can be sent to the Bath Area Fish Committee, P.O. Box 143, Bath, PA 18014. Entry to the annual fishing contest is free for all children ages 15 and under. Volunteers and donations are both needed and appreciated. For questions or more information, please call Pete at 610730-6737.
Phillip Retter By ED PANY Mr. Phillip Retter was reared in Easton, graduating from Easton High School in 1988. At age 13 he started to work at his uncle’s garage in Nazareth, “Fluerer’s Auto Body,” recalling, “I worked there after school and each summer. My father Glenn helped out and was on the pit crew of Al Loquasto, an Indy racecar driver who drove the Frosty Root Beer car in the famous Indy 500. After graduation, Phillip worked at Einfalt Salvage Yard, starting at four dollars an hour, running every piece of equipment including loader, trucks, bulldozer and was a truck mechanic. After 18 years at Einfalt, he was hired by Smith & Hahn, a construction company who did work in our local cement plants. With this experience, he was hired by Essroc as a millwright. He said, “I was hired by Essroc and in a few days we were sold to Lehigh Heidelberg.” Phillip is one of 18 millwrights who man two shifts at Plant #1 and Plant #3, the old Lone Star facility. The supervisors are Jon Hahn, Jack Santo, Todd Eck and Brian Jones.
He said, “Each day is a challenge, but I like the mechanical aspects of the job, working on equipment in the coal mill, preheater, crusher, pack house and quarry. Mike Haberle and other employees have shared their experiences with me. Most employees live close to the plant so there is a community spirit here.” Each morning a safety meeting, a “toolbox talk” discusses safety issues in the plant and the industry. Safety is always stressed. Mr. Retter has had an interesting career racing modified cars from 1989 to 2006. In his 44x car, he has won 43 feature races on many tracks from Flemington to New Egypt. He remembered, “My largest purse was $12,000 at the Flemington “Challenge of ChamContinued on page 2
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