Scott Stoneback, accompanied by Kevin Shoemaker, president of the Alburtis-Lockridge Historical Society, arrived at Borough Hall March 27 while council was in executive session to deliver an ordinance approved by the Lehigh County Authority turning over the ownership of the Lock Ridge Church at Franklin and Church Streets and the bird sanctuary in Alburtis to the borough.

Stoneback said the ordinance also shows Lehigh County Authority will pay $50,000 for the estimated cost of repairs. This also means the historical society will have a permanent home, according to Shoemaker.

The ordinance was delivered to council but no action was taken.

Terry Bender, owner of the Buckeye Tavern in Macungie is buying the Iron Horse Inn, 106 N. Main St., Alburtis.

Interested in the inn for a few months, Bender, accompanied by Glenn Fritts, of Weichert Commercial Brokerage, Inc., spoke at length with council about the improvements needed to transform the inn into an attractive family restaurant with a new name.

Bender estimated the improvements would cost approximately $500,000 including removing the bar to make room for more tables and razing the barn for additional parking spaces. Bender said his plans include a liquor license.

In addition to improving the looks of the street at the railroad tracks when people enter the borough, Bender said the new family restaurant will bring business, taxes and employment to the borough. Bender referred to what he has already done at the Buckeye Tavern and stressed it is thriving and a respectable restaurant. Being a philanthropic person, he donates to the community when asked and would continue to do so in Alburtis.

With this in mind, Bender asked council if they would consider helping him by forgiving all or a portion of the current unpaid fines of over $26,000 against the hotel as Herman Sulderits included that in the final contract. Sulderits has already signed and Bender said he would sign the contract himself, finalizing it, with closure expected to be in May if the borough considered his request.

Bender estimated the restaurant would be ready to open for business in September should he sign the contract.

Following an executive session of council members only, they advised Bender they could not forgive the fines but would give him a substantial reduction on the borough's building fees and other permits.

Bender said he needed to have an amount before he signed the contract of sale. Council returned to another executive session with Bender being present. Council quoted a confidential, but satisfactory amount of reductions for Bender to purchase the inn.

Roy Seaman, of Zionsville, son-in-law of 86-year-old Marie Moyer, and speaking on her behalf, discussed with council the deplorable conditions at the adjoining unit of the double house, 126 S. Second St.

In February, windows had been left open at the abandoned home, freezing the pipes in Moyer's home, leaving her with no water. They had to bring in several electric heaters to defrost her pipes. Concern for the health and welfare of his mother-in-law, Seaman, present with Moyer's two daughters, expected council to have accomplished more than they have by now and wants satisfaction by summer because of the stench and unsanitary conditions at the abandoned home.

Council President Steven Hill and Solicitor David Knerr explained to Seaman they understood frozen pipes are a serious problem but they must follow the procedures laid out by law, no matter how long it takes, or the borough could get sued. Because they are unable to locate the owner, they could take no action against him and said they are going as fast as they are able by law. Recently the owner had been seen at the premises.

Mayor Kathleen Palmer, after checking with the police department said there was a question of the owner sleeping in his car, and the police confronted him but unfortunately the officer was not aware of who the man actually was.

Knerr advised Seaman he could take action as an individual with private rights if he wanted to but Seaman did not feel he should have to do that.

"I live close by and saw the windows were open and I think when the inspection was made the code enforcement officer opened them to air out the place," Councilman David Lehr said.

He sympathized with Seaman saying he understood his concerns for his mother-in-law. Hill claimed the code enforcement officer, Matt, could not have left the windows open because he did not enter the premises without the owner's permission and he is going to keep checking the building and trying to locate the owner.

Knerr advised Seaman to call the code enforcement officer or the borough secretary when he finds something new. Seaman requested council to speak with their officers.

Therese Schweyer, Alburtis' representative for Lower Macungie Library, in her quarterly update said the library was having additional e-reader workshops in May; they are setting up with overdrive and pre-overdrive to notify people by email two days before their books are due; they have Mango Language, a new database for learning languages easily; their spring book sale will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 with the big sale 2 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7; April 9 the library is hosting the East Penn Town Hall meeting; and on May 12 they will be at the May Festival.

Council President Steve Hill asked if they would be having computer classes in the evenings for people who work days and Schweyer answered she would ask about that.

A motion was passed to reimburse Donnie Derr for the cost of a grease gun needed by maintenance. He paid $90; a new grease gun would have cost $500.

Hill appealed to all council members to plan on attending the Borough's Centennial opening day ceremonies.