Bellevue will again host a celebration at Memorial Park for residents on July 4th, despite the best efforts of council’s parks and recreation committee for the second year in a row.

Last year, the committee -- chaired by Lisa Blaney-Stewart and including council president Kathy Coder as a member -- ignored the event until the final days, at which time Coder signed an employee’s name for credit card purchases using the borough’s card so that Bellevue could offer its free menu of hotdogs and watermelon, along with entertainment.

This year, council has been reminded at meetings for the last few months that the event was fast approaching, to no avail. The agenda of last week’s parks committee meeting did not even mention the celebration. In fact, it was a non-committee member, Jane Braunlich, who got the train on the tracks by suggesting the committee approve a budget of $1,000 and get to work.

“I’m a little distressed,” said Mayor George Doscher at Tuesday’s council meeting. Not only did the committee’s failure to plan the event earlier cost the borough donations of food and money that could have reduced the borough’s costs, but all the work has been turned over to assistant director of administrative services (DAS) Katie Hale.

“We have a very expensive party planner sitting next to me, and that’s not what she was hired for,” Doscher said.

The celebration, which will include free admission to the swimming pool, will be held on Monday, July 4, at Memorial Park.

Also, council approved a $2,500 contribution to the North Boroughs Independence Day fireworks, which will be held Friday, July 1, at Avalon Field.