Borough Council Approves $50 Donation for Boy's Trip

On May 7, Hellertown Borough Council voted 5-2 to approve a donation of $50 toward an educational, overseas trip by a local student, but not before several council members questioned the lack of a policy to help them handle similar donation requests.

Connor Jackson, a Lower Saucon Township resident and at , .

In June, he will visit the U.K. and France, where highlights of his trip will include meeting a member of British Parliament and visiting the beaches at Normandy.

After Jackson made his initial request, which was relayed to council by Hellertown mayor Richard Fluck last month, he was asked to appear at a meeting to deliver a brief presentation about what he plans to see and do.

Following his presentation May 7, council members expressed support for the trip, but several questioned whether or not they should be approving the use of borough funds without a donation policy in place.

"I think the program's a great program and I talked to Connor and his family beforehand," councilman Tom Rieger said. But he asked, "Where do we draw the line (for donation requests) in the future?"

"I will support this (request), but I strongly recommend in the future...(that) we need to develop some sort of policy," he added.

Councilwoman Gail Nolf also asked that a policy be crafted to help handle future requests "and that it be fair across the board."

Councilman Richard Staffieri, who voted against approving the request, said he doesn't like the idea of donating taxpayer money to people who "don't live in town" and thus don't pay borough taxes.

"I would be willing to make a donation myself," he said. "All Connor has to do is knock on my door and ask... But I will not give him borough money."

Staffieri asked borough council solicitor Michael Corriere for his input, but Corriere declined to take a stance on whether or not the donation should be approved.

"It's certainly council's call," he instructed.

Council vice president John Bate spoke in favor of approving the request, which he said will benefit a child who will be representing the Saucon Valley as a whole.

Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township "are in partnership," he said.

Voting against approving the donation, along with Staffieri, was council president Phil Weber.

The $50 will come from a $2,000 reserve that council can use to make donations.

In closing the discussion, Nolf had words of support for Jackson, who she said should view council's disagreement over his request as part of a broader learning experience.

"Connor, you walked into an opening, so don't take it personally. It's an education for you," she said, adding that he did a "very good job" of stating his case.

Nolf also asked Jackson--who was accompanied by his parents--if he would appear at a future meeting to tell council about his trip.

"Yes, absolutely," he replied.

The donation from the borough was Jackson's second in as many days.

from the , where he plans to sell note cards to help raise funds for his trip on May 20.