Rinker Ousted as Nazareth Emergency Management Coordinator

Mike Rinker is out. James Collins is in.

The Nazareth Borough Council, at its Thursday night worksession, announced that James Collins will be appointed Monday night to replace Mike Rinker as the borough's emergency management coordinator.

"The way I read the letter is that Jimmy is in, Mr. Rinker is out," Borough Council President Dan Chiavaroli announced to the audience.

In February, the council voted to make a change.

Rinker had served in the position for the past 12 years. He's also Upper Nazareth Township's Board of Supervisors chairman and the township's emergency management coordinator.

Rinker works as a Northampton County 911 dispatcher.

Councilman Carl Fischl, who oversees the fire committee, said that the borough had finally received state approval from the governor to sign off on the change.

Chiavaroli said Collins, the borough’s public works assistant superintendent, had passed background. checks and received a FEMA endorsement.

"All the paperwork has been completed," Fischl said. "The appointment is effective July 1."

"My recommendation is that we appoint him Monday," Chiavaroli said.

Police Chief Thomas Trachta previously stated that he supported Rinker continuing in the post.

“I think it’s a mistake,” Trachta said at a March council meeting. “[Emergency Management Coordinator] is not an entry-level position you can learn as you go along.”

Collins is a former fire chief of Vigilance Hose Co. No. 1.

Trachta said in March that it will take Collins “a long time to achieve what Mike Rinker already has in place” and “it feels as though the borough is going backward.”