Third Street residents Arlene and Edward Spade returned to the North Catasauqua Borough Council to follow up on a complaint they had registered earlier this year.

The Spades said their next-door neighbor's three dogs deposit feces in a caged area on the property.

When it is not immediately cleaned up, the odor prevents them from being able to enjoy sitting on their backyard patio.

They attended a council meeting in the spring to report the problem and were told borough health officer Connie Molchany would inspect the property and see what could be done.

Borough Council President Joe Keglovits expressed surprise at the reappearance of the Spades.

"I thought the problem was rectified," he said.

But Arlene Spade said the problem has continued, despite a visit from a borough police officer and Molchany.

"We are pleading with you guys to handle this," she said. "All we want is for her to clean up after her dogs go and it seems like it's too much to ask."

Keglovits said it must be determined if it is a health issue or a code enforcement concern.

Molchany, who was at the council meeting, said she had visited the dog owner's home in April.

"We explained what she should do and she agreed to it," Molchany told the council. "I was under the understanding it was taken care of."

The Spades said cleanup improved for a while but that it is not consistent.

Keglovits said a further visit by Molchany and the borough code enforcement officer will be scheduled.

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In other business, the council approved the use of the park's horseshoe pit area for a fundraising event by the Catasauqua Youth Soccer Association.

The CYSA has been using park fields for some of its soccer team practices and games this year. The organization had already reserved the park pavilion for the event, but the organization's representative attended the council meeting to make sure that the horseshoe pits would also be reserved for their use.

Normally, pavilion rental does not entitle a group to exclusive use of any of the other park's facilities, including the horseshoe area.

Councilwoman Cherie Gebhardt, also a recreation committee member, explained there are currently no horseshoe leagues using the park, so the pits are rarely used except when a group is renting the pavilion.

Councilman John Yanek said he favored allowing the pits to be reserved for CYSA for the event. He said he would like to see the park being used frequently for events.

Part of the reason that the Catasauqua Park & Playground has had some "violent incidents" recently, he said, is because that park is not used for events as frequently as the North Catasauqua Park is.

Councilman Shawn McGinley also supported the event.

"Fundraisers distract from it being a park, but this organization has been using the park, so I don't have a problem with it," he said.

The council voted unanimously to approve the event.

Also at the meeting, the council said farewell to Lauren Pluchinsky who was attending her final meeting as a junior council member. Also completing her term was Emily Williams, who was not at the meeting.

New junior council members beginning their terms are Matt Trust, who was sworn in by Mayor Bill Molchany Jr., and Cecilia Remirez, who was unable to attend. Junior council members are North Catasauqua residents who attend Catasauqua High School.

Councilman John Yanek expressed appreciation to CHS guidance counselor Eric Snyder for helping to find the interested students.

The new junior council members will be viewing a webinar on their responsibilities and will become familiar with the workings of borough government so they can participate in council meetings.