Longtime Plaza Volunteer to Borough: 'I've Had My Fill'

Borough resident and longtime volunteer Joe Delfoe and his family will no longer donate their time and energy to help maintain Detwiller Plaza, which many people know as Hellertown's "fountain park."

Delfoe made the announcement at Tuesday's borough council meeting, where he expressed disappointment over a recent council decision to allow placement of a sign in the plaza.

The sign, which was staked in the ground, advertised the Family Weekend that will be held in conjunction with the Saucon Valley Spirit and 4-County Firemen's parades in Hellertown in October.

Delfoe said the sign "was plopped dead in the middle of [the plaza]." He also said he disagreed with a version of events presented by council vice president John Bate, who said he had ordered the sign returned to the plaza after it was removed.

Bate said he respectfully explained to Delfoe why the sign was put back, but Delfoe said that was not the case.

"It's not just about the sign. It's about people that growl at you," he said. "I've had my fill."

Delfoe said he would continue to maintain the clock tower in the plaza, "because we built it."

He said he also plans to oversee the completion of a fountain restoration project that's been ongoing in Borough Authority Park as long as he receives assistance.

Councilman Richard Staffieri asked that a letter of thanks for his 27 years of volunteer service to the plaza be sent to Delfoe, and a motion to do so was approved unanimously.

By that time, however, Delfoe had already left the meeting.

Absent from the meeting were council president Phil Weber and Councilwoman Gail Nolf.

Photo: Hellertown resident Joe Delfoe addresses Borough Council on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013.