Police Chief Blasts Removal of Emergency Management Coordinator

Nazareth's police chief calls the removal of longtime Emergency Management Coordinator a 'mistake.'

Nazareth Borough Council continues to hear complaints one month after voting to remove Mike Rinker as the borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator. “I think it’s a mistake,” said Police Chief Thomas Trachta during Council’s meeting Monday night. “[Emergency Management Coordinator] is not an entry-level position you can learn as you go along.”  Pending the governor’s approval, Rinker, who was in the position for 12 years, will be replaced by the borough’s public works assistant superintendent, James Collins. Collins is a former fire chief of Vigilance Hose Co. No. 1. Trachta said 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.” Did Nazareth Borough …

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Delinquent Trash Customers Cost Nazareth $22,000

A Nazareth councilman said Thursday that 88 customers are delinquent in their trash bills.

Nazareth Councilman Carl Fischl announced at Thursday's council workshop that 88 customers are delinquent in their trash bills -- meaning the borough is out about $22,000. A customer is considered delinquent after failing to pay four quarters of trash bills. Councilwoman Cynthia Werner said that while she is not trying to criticize people in an economic pinch, delinquent customers in general don’t care. "None call to say they can’t pay their bills," she said. "You hear from people who really care." Werner suggested to Fischl that memos be placed at the borough’s three kiosks reminding customers about delinquent bills and late-payment fines.

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Longtime Council President Reappointed, Newcomer Welcomed

Nazareth Borough Council holds its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday night; Dan Chiavaroli reappointed as president and Larry Stoudt as vice president.

Nazareth Borough Council held its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday night, reappointing Dan Chiavaroli as president, a position he has held for more than 20 years. Chiavaroli ran a successful campaign in the November election, winning his eighth term on council. Larry Stoudt, who narrowly defeated Councilman Thomas Heckman in the November election, was reappointed vice president. Stoudt has been a councilman since June 12, 1975, when he was appointed to serve the remaining balance of an unexpired, vacated seat. Michael Kopach and Frank Maurek also took the oath of office, administered by Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. This is the fourth term for both councilmen. Newcomer Carl Fischl was finally able to take his seat at Nazareth Borough …

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Vote: November 8, 2011

Stoudt Squeaks Past Heckman in Battle of Incumbents

Result decided by absentee ballots; tally still not official, but Heckman has conceded defeat.

Incumbent Republican Larry Stoudt defeated incumbent Democrat Thomas Heckman to retain his seat on Nazareth Borough Council, in one of the closest election races in Northampton County this year. The race for the second of two available council seats in Nazareth's "Ward 2" came down to absentee ballots, which were counted this week by the Northampton County Election Office. The county had not released official vote totals as of Thursday night, but both candidates said they were informed Stoudt had won. The final vote tally is likely to be 115-112, with Stoudt named on all five absentee ballots. The preliminary vote count on election night last week -- before absentee ballots were counted -- showed Heckman ahead by 112-110. The other council…

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Vote: November 8, 2011

Absentee Ballots Could Change Race Outcome for Nazareth Council

Race for Ward 2 seat too close to call until vote totals are certified next week; one incumbent will stay, one will go.

Larry Stoudt... out? Maybe not. Incumbents Thomas Heckman and Stoudt will find out next week -- when absentee ballots will be counted -- who keeps his seat on Nazareth Borough Council next year. Due to a mere two-vote difference, the absentee ballots could change the outcome of who won the second of two available council seats in Ward 2. (The other seat was easily won by newcomer Carl Fischl, who appeared on both major party lines.) Preliminary results from Tuesday's election show Heckman, a Democrat, ahead of the Republican Stoudt by 112-110, but those figures are unofficial -- and do not include absentee ballots cast in the ward. In brief phone interviews on Thursday, both candidates seemed confused by the delay in counting absentee …

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Vote: November 8, 2011

Longtime Council Member Out, Newcomer Voted In

Larry Stoudt, on Nazareth Borough Council for more than 30 years, was defeated by a mere two votes; newcomer Carl Fischl will take his seat, according to unofficial results.

Larry Stoudt is out by two votes. That's the news tonight from Nazareth Borough Council's election returns in the Ward 2 race. Stoudt, on council for more than 30 years, was beaten by incumbent Thomas Heckman and newcomer Carl Fischl, who got on the ballot after qualifying in the May primary as a write-in. Unofficial totals show Fischl, who was on both parties' ballots, was the top vote-getter with 210 -- 90 Republican and 120 Democratic. Heckman, a Democrat, was next with 112. Stoudt, a Republican, got 110 votes. The seats carry four-year terms. Fischl, a high school teacher and lifelong Nazareth resident, ran a successful write-in campaign in the May primary. Because Fischl was one of the top vote-getters on both ballots, his name …

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Vote: November 8, 2011

Meet Your Nazareth Borough Council Candidates

Helping you to make an informed decision.

Nazareth Borough Council has two seats open for election this year in Ward 2 and three candidates are running. Of those candidates, two are incumbents -- Thomas Heckman, a Democrat and chairman of the borough’s Fire Committee, and Larry Stoudt, a Republican and chairman of the borough’s Police Committee. The third candidate is Carl Fischl, a Democrat who was a write-in candidate in the May primary. Because Fischl was one of the top vote-getters on both ballots, his name will appear on the GOP and Democratic ballots in Tuesday's election. Here are the answers to your questions from each Nazareth Borough Council candidate: Thomas Heckman Larry Stoudt Carl Fischl

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Vote: November 8, 2011

Meet the Candidates: Carl Fischl

Nazareth resident challenges two incumbents for a seat on Nazareth Borough Council.

Age: 59 Residence: Nazareth What is your political affiliation: Democrat, but will appear on both party lines on Tuesday Education: Profession/Work Experience: Community Service:   Why are you running for Nazareth Borough Council? I [feel that] I'm a new face with new ideas. We need to bring downtown Nazareth back again, and the police situation needs to be examined.   What qualifies you to serve on the council? Being a lifetime resident. I live smack-dab in the middle of town and deal with things other council members don't see. I will bring downtown residents' concerns to council. What do you see as the council’s roles and responsibilities? Try to give ideas to people to make the town move forward. We need to look at all the apartment …

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