Should strict state regulations limit the noise coming from a Catasauqua tavern or should perhaps more forgiving police oversight of the decibels be approved? That is a question that borough council members are being asked to answer.

At the council's workshop session last Monday, the owners of Fossils, a tavern on Race Street, asked the council to consider a measure that would allow the borough to set noise standards rather than the state Liquor Control Board [LCB].

Solicitor Jeffry Dimmich told council members the LCB standard is that an establishment that has a liquor license cannot allow noise that could be heard outside the establishment.

Councilman Vincent Smith commented that the requirement is made stringent so the LCB can shut down unruly establishments.

Fossils has a band performing on Friday and Saturday nights and there have been complaints filed about the noise. Dimmich said when too many complaints are filed, the LCB can take away the tavern's liquor license.

Before facing such drastic measures, Fossils owners said they would probably forgo having the bands perform on the weekend, but it would have a negative impact on their business.

Council debated whether the added task of monitoring noise complaints would be burdensome to the borough police department.

Dimmich opposed changing the present set up.

Nearby Coplay had a similar situation at the Coplay Saengerbund social club and has taken the steps necessary to switch the monitoring of noise to the borough level. Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish told council he will discuss Coplay's experience with Coplay chief Vincent Genovese, and will report back to council at the next meeting.

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Also at the workshop, Dimmich reported that he is meeting with Allentown city officials this week about earned income tax owed to the borough.

EIT is collected by the employer on every employee and sent to the municipality where the employee is located. The employer's municipality distributes the tax funds to the municipality where the employee lives.

Allentown has estimated its payments to Catasauqua in the past because the record-keeping process was burdensome. With its smaller population base, Catasauqua is able to calculate precisely what it is owed and found out that Allentown had underpaid the borough. Dimmich's task is to recover the EIT funds.

In other business, Councilman Eugene Schlegel asked for an update on a suit against Miller's Surplus Inc. to recoup the cost of cleaning up debris that found its way into Catasauqua Creek during last fall's storms. The township has cleaned up the creek, but is looking to be reimbursed for its costs.

Dimmich reported that the suit is moving through the courts.

Also, Councilman Alfred Regits inquired about an emergency evacuation plan at the high-rise property on Third Street. The high-rise is billed as an independent living facility for the elderly. Regits contends that some of the residents on the upper floors have limited mobility and could be trapped on the top floors if an emergency occurred.

Dimmich is working on a detailed review of the facility.

In other business, Councilman Brian McKittrick asked for clarification on the changes to the Civil Service regulations. "We want to be sure that applicants know that if they have not had police academy training that they will need to pay for it," he said.

The wording in the new regulations, according to McKittrick, allows council an option of paying for academy training. McKittrick asked that the loophole be closed.

Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder suggested that the borough pay for the training, but lower the initial salary. According to Goldfeder, if an officer trained by the borough moves to another post within two years, the receiving municipality must reimburse Catasauqua for the officer's training costs.

Dimmich asked for time to incorporate details into the new regulations.

"It is difficult to change these rules once they are passed," he explained.

Kish asked that the rules be completed in time for an approval at the September council meeting.

"The timing on this is tight. If we need to send someone to the academy, it starts in February," he said. "Testing and evaluations will put us right about that time frame. If we wait past September, then we are off the schedule."

The next meeting takes place Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., a delayed meeting date due to the Labor Day holiday.