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<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; The borough&#8217;s battle over the 2018 budget will not be officially settled until the last day of 2017.</p><p>But at a council meeting Thursday, president Gary Kochinski tried to encourage fellow members to vote in favor of a 17.9 percent tax increase that keeps Plymouth&#8217;s three fire companies open and retains its full- and part-time fire personnel.</p><p>Meanwhile, more controversy broke out as a new council member took her seat over the objection of some passionate residents.</p><p>Kochinski had initially supported a lower tax hike of 7.4 percent, which would&#8217;ve meant a significant reduction in fire staff and the closing of the Goodwill Hose Company. He said he changed his mind in response to strong negative reaction from residents, many of whom attended council&#8217;s two previous meetings.</p><p>Council members have unanimously maintained that the borough needs more funds &#8212; either by an increase in income or reduction in expenditures &#8212; to increase the police budget by 25 percent.</p><p>If the budget presented and seemingly supported by council passes Dec. 31, the borough will retain two full-time fire drivers and 11 part-time firemen.</p><p>The other significant issue Thursday was the appointment of Donna Manglaviti to council, replacing Mark Ktytor who resigned last month.</p><p>Both Beth Ann Pointkowski and Cheryl McMann asked council to appoint long-time borough watchdog Mary Jarrett to the seat.</p><p>Jarrett ran for council as a Republican this year. Although she did not win, she received the next highest amount of votes.</p><p>Councilman Bill Dixon, responding to boisterous audience response, said he would not consider Jarrett because he felt he could not work with her.</p><p>&#8220;Jarrett controls social media,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And we get hammered on social media.&#8221;</p><p>McMann, before walking out of the room, said, &#8220;So you want to put in a &#8216;yes&#8217; person rather than what constituents want? I&#8217;m done.&#8221;</p><p>Dixon asked the public to support council&#8217;s appointment of Manglaviti.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s qualified and she has a good resume,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But are we going to be threatened on social media? Are our numbers going to be posted to Facebook?&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Resident Beth Ann Pointkowski addresses council during a sometimes contentious meeting Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_TTL122217Plymouth2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Resident Beth Ann Pointkowski addresses council during a sometimes contentious meeting Thursday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_TTL122217Plymouth3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">District Judge Donald Whittaker swears in Donna Manglaviti as a new Plymouth borough council member Thursday. She fills a vacant seat left by a recent resignation. Some citizens spoke out against her appointment. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_TTL122217Plymouth3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>District Judge Donald Whittaker swears in Donna Manglaviti as a new Plymouth borough council member Thursday. She fills a vacant seat left by a recent resignation. Some citizens spoke out against her appointment. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_TTL122217Plymouth1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Resident Cheryl McMann stormed out of a Plymouth borough council meeting Thursday after council opted against McMann&#8217;s suggestion for an appointment to an open council seat. Meanwhile, the borough seems ready to pass a 2018 budget Dec. 31 that hikes taxes almost 18 percent but maintains current levels of fire staffing and keeps open all three of Plymouth&#8217;s fire companies. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_TTL122217Plymouth1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Resident Cheryl McMann stormed out of a Plymouth borough council meeting Thursday after council opted against McMann&#8217;s suggestion for an appointment to an open council seat. Meanwhile, the borough seems ready to pass a 2018 budget Dec. 31 that hikes taxes almost 18 percent but maintains current levels of fire staffing and keeps open all three of Plymouth&#8217;s fire companies. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Steep tax hike nears as council appointment draws ire</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Plymouth ready to OK big tax hike as council appointment draws citizens’ ire