Coplay's newest councilman is pushing to move forward on plans for a civic plaza.

At Tuesday's workshop meeting, Councilman Charles Sodl agreed to cochair a committee with Councilman Michael Mazur for that purpose.

Mazur opened the discussion by asking council to consider authorizing Solicitor James Preston to pursue formalizing an agreement with Giant for a tract of open space on the corner of North Second and Chestnut streets.

He called the project "the beautification of Coplay."

"I already got informal approval from Giant," said borough Secretary/Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek. "This is to prepare the agreement for that piece of property."

The tract is located at the corner of Chestnut and North Second streets.

"We cannot let it sit," said Sodl. "We need to put a committee together."

Sodl spoke about the same issue at council's September workshop – after he had applied for the seat on council vacated by Marvin Mann but before being appointed. Council took no formal action nor was the issue discussed further in September.

Gyecsek said after the meeting the supermarket and the borough are considering some kind of long-term lease agreement that would give the borough control of the property.

The borough comprehensive plan, approved in May 2010, proposes a civic plaza on this tract under "downtown and economic development."

"Giant was required to set aside an open space area at Chestnut Street and North Second Street when its supermarket was approved for construction by Coplay Borough Council. In recent informal conversations with borough representatives, the corporation has indicated it may be willing to consider a proposal that would relinquish control of the property to the borough for the purpose of constructing a downtown civic plaza," says the plan.

The project would improve the appearance of the land and show business and private investors that the borough is willing to invest in its downtown, says the comprehensive plan.

The new plaza would include 12 parking spaces, pedestrial level lighting, trees, benches, a town clock, a concrete sidewalk with a brick border, a welcome sign, a lawn area and landscaping, a flagpole and cement workers memorial monument, says the plan. It would also include a spot for a holiday tree.

Sodl suggested the committee be made up of council members, planning commission members and members of the public. But, without someone in charge, little progress will be made, he said.

Councilman Joseph Groller, who chaired the meeting in the absence of council President Louis Bodish, suggested Sodl head the committee and that Mazur cochair.

Gyecsek said council does not need to take formal action on creating a committee. Council will vote at the next meeting Oct. 9 on authorizing Preston to pursue an agreement with Giant.

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In other business, police Chief Vincent Genovese asked council to send a letter to Harrisburg supporting an application by Liz Jones to become certified as a kennel operator. Jones is currently assisting several municipalities in Lehigh County, including Coplay, with animal control.

Currently, the Lehigh County Humane Society is the only entity in Lehigh County licensed as a kennel, Genovese said.

"I think every municipality in Lehigh County is looking for an alternative," he said.

The humane society became the center of controversey in 2009 when it requested $22,500 in funding from Lehigh County but refused to answer questions posed by county and municipal officials about its kill rates.

It also requested higher rates from municipal clients, which is an issue for a municipality like Coplay which usually has to hold less than a half dozen dogs a year. Had Coplay contracted with the Humane Society and had no dogs to turn over, it still would have cost $3,300 "just for them to provide a service we didn't use."

Genovese also asked council to authorize filling a part-time position on the police force in conjunction with Catasauqua Borough. The person would split his time between the two boroughs, resulting in a cost savings for both municipalities.