Second Vice President Kathleen Raines chaired the Alburtis Borough Council meeting June 26 in the absence of President Steven Hill and Vice President John Aleszczyk, who arrived late. Also absent was Councilperson Sherryann Oels.

Residents of Church Street were notified by a letter from Keystone Engineering their curbing and sidewalk replacement was to begin July 1 and be completed by Aug. 30.

B.F. Browne and Co. is the contractor and individual costs were quoted to each resident. Residents were told they are free to hire their own contractors but their work must be coordinated with B.F. Browne's. Fences and trees are still up and the residents are not preparing for this to be done. Because the letter was not specific about this, payment requirements and other important factors, Solicitor David Knerr suggested a second letter be sent by the borough to save money, after consulting with Keystone Consulting Engineers. Council passed a motion setting a timeline of when the residents have to do the work and when it must be paid.

Council passed a motion approving the addition of two more boxes to catch water for the Third Street project costing an additional $6,000 on top of the original $5,726 for the installation of boxes. One box will be at the post office by the parking lot near the alley and the other will be behind the firehouse at the intersection of Third and Chestnut streets.

Council accepted a letter of resignation from Jason Schweyer with regret. Schweyer resigned from the planning commission and Borough Authority because his family is moving to Macungie. "He will be missed," Executive Secretary Sharon Trexler said.

The Lower Macungie Library is launching Zinio, reported Therese Schweyer, Alburtis representative for the library. Library cardholders with digital reading devices will be able to digitally download magazines free, which do not have to be returned as books do. There are 50 magazines to pick from and more will be added in the future. Visual music will be launched later in the year.

Registered for the summer reading program are 130 kids and 75 adults and they have read 1,200 books so far, said Schweyer. Even though her family is moving to Macungie, Schweyer told council she would like to remain the Alburtis representative at the library and council and Knerr said they appreciated her representing the borough and agreed they would like to keep her if the library agreed.

Scott Stoneback and David Lehr will meet with Lehigh County Authority about the possibility of taking over the Alburtis Lockridge Church and bird sanctuary. Council wants the deeds to be clear with no restrictions and the bird sanctuary property should be surveyed.

Matthew J. Trexler has been appointed Alburtis Emergency Management Coordinator, as recommended by council.