Freeport Borough has been one of the last Alle-Kiski Valley communities to resist increasing the Emergency and Municipal Service tax, but that is about to change. In a 4-1 preliminary vote on Monday, council backed Councilman Don Rehner’s proposal to raise the borough’s $10 EMS tax to $26. Most municipalties have increased the tax to the legal limit of $52. The Emergency and Municipal Services tax replaced the $10 occupational tax this year. Council president Jim Seagriff said there are about 200 people who work in Freeport who will be affeced by the increase. Using that estimate, the borough would go from collecting $2,000 per year to collecting $5,200 — an increase of $3,200. Rehner said he felt it was only fair to raise the tax since many borough residents are working in communities that charge them the full $52. The proposal passed 4-1, with Councilman Randy McLaughlin voting against the increase. Councilman Clyde Leri was absent. The EMS tax raise will face a final vote at council’s Nov. 7 meeting. In other news:

In executive session, council extended the probation period of part-time Patrolman Antoinette Unger for an additional three months. The three-month period would run from November to January. Council approved the borough health care plan with a 5 percent raise in rates. The coverage is Health America/Health Assurance. New premiums are $255 for a single person per month and $700 for family benefits per month. The borough pays the full premium for both employees and their families. The Freeport Volunteer Fire Department will be permitted to paint the curbs in front of the borough’s fire hydrants. The fire department plans to color-code fire hydrants in the borough according to the hydrants’ water pressure. According to Councilman Jim Swartz, fire department officials initially approached the Buffalo Township Municipal Authority, which owns the hydrants, about painting the hydrants in the coded colors. However, according to Swartz, the authority denied the request. So the fire department decided to paint the curb in front of each hydrant instead. Local contractor Jim Leri has finished painting the gazebo in Riverside Park. Leri donated his time and materials. Because of Halloween, council’s committee meeting that was scheduled for Oct. 31 has been moved to Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The Halloween parade is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 26. The rain date is Thursday, Oct 27. Trick-or-treat night for both Freeport and Buffalo Township will be Monday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Freeport Area High School Homecoming parade will be on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The parade is to start in front of the Freeport Junior High School, proceed down Fourth Street to Riverside Drive, make a left onto Fifth Street and return to the junior high school.

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