ALLENTOWN – After several weeks of debate, the Borough Council has passed a resolution creating a Senior Citizen Committee in Allentown.
The resolution was passed in a 4-0 vote by Councilman Rob Schmitt, Councilman Robert Strovinsky, Councilman John A. Elder III and Councilman Michael Drennan during the council’s Feb. 12 meeting. Council President Thomas Fritts and Councilwoman Angela Anthony were absent.
The new Senior Citizen Committee replaced the former Senior Citizen Ad Hoc Committee and did so through the passage of a resolution, rather than the adoption of an ordinance.
On Jan. 7, the council introduced an ordinance that would have, if adopted, codified a Senior Citizen Committee in the borough.
During a public hearing on the ordinance on Jan. 22, changes to the ordinance were requested and council members voted to table the ordinance.
According to the resolution council members passed on Feb. 12, the council “has facilitated meetings and discussions between the former members of the Senior Citizen Ad Hoc Committee and proposed new members of the Senior Citizen Committee.”
The council members said the former members of the ad hoc committee have decided to not participate in the new Senior Citizen Committee.
To move forward, the council appointed Melinda Brown, Linda Cotte, Kris Danch and Kathy Hamnett to the new Senior Citizen Committee. The council appointed Kelly Awyland, Isaac Meerwarth and Kelly Owens as non-voting alternates to the Senior Citizen Committee.
According to the resolution, the terms for all of the appointed individuals will run from Feb. 12 through Dec. 31 “so the mayor and council can determine if an ordinance codifying the committee can be re-introduced.”
To vote on the Senior Citizen Committee, an individual must be 60 years old or older. All members of the committee must be residents of Allentown, an Allentown business owner
or have a background in the medical field.
Mayor Greg Westfall commented on the resolution and said, in part, “In preparation for this proposed change (from the ad hoc committee to the new committee) virtually no one on the Borough Council has reached out to the existing committee to ask about their work over the last three years, nor attended either the monthly Senior Citizen Ad Hoc Committee meetings or open houses.
“The open houses had entertainment and guest speakers covering various topics
including finances, safety, phone scams, home health care, genealogy, etc. The
committee conducted surveys of Allentown seniors on at least two occasions
to determine their needs.
“Statements made by members of the governing body implied the existing ad hoc
committee is not made up of professionals and needs outside ‘help.’ For the
record, let’s be clear, the ad hoc committee is made up of a medical doctor,
nurse, educator, educational administrator and other professionals,” Westfall said.
“As one member of the ad hoc committee recently stated, failure of this council to work with us, instead of against us, also clearly shows a lack of respect and a careless attitude about anything we have to offer.
“Members of the ad hoc committee, please accept my apology for the manner in which the majority of the Borough Council has treated you and their actions which put political posturing ahead of the best interests and needs of Allentown senior citizens,” the mayor said.
In response, Strovinsky said, “I found the mayor’s comments unfortunate. Council’s intentions were all along to codify the ad hoc committee, increase membership and provide the new committee with a budget that could be used for transportation, subsidizing programs or lunches, etc. Instead it turned into a political platform.
“The council voted 4-0 to move ahead with codifying the committee and adding the new members. We hope the founding members of the ad hoc committee, who did a fantastic job getting this program off the ground, consider becoming a part of this new group. We should all be working together for the betterment of our community and put our differences aside,” Strovinsky said.
Jane Westfall, the mayor’s wife, offered a comment at the meeting and said, “I want to apologize for the strong word I used at the last council meeting. Drastically changing the ad hoc committee by adding seven new members without input from the committee can only be viewed as a political power play. Using the seniors as political bowling pins to be knocked over by the council is definitely not good for Allentown.”
