Catasauqua Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder hinted during Catasauqua council's workshop meeting Monday that PennDOT has alternate plans which will address the traffic jams that occur at the intersection of Lehigh and Race streets.

"We were asked not to release the details until the borough had a chance to review them," Goldfeder said. He announced there will be a public meeting in September to present the alternatives.

A PennDOT plan for the intersection, introduced several years ago, was developed. However, due to many roadblocks the plan was scrapped earlier this year.

The new plan presumably avoids some of the problems in the first one.

Also at the meeting, Robert Recker of 521 Poplar St. brought his continuing complaint against the condition of his neighbor's home at 523 Poplar Street.

"We did go to the magistrate and he was fined $120," said Recker. By his comments, Recker expected a larger penalty.

"The roof on my neighbor's house has been tarped for over four years," he said after the meeting. "Some of the mold is probably in my attic. When the tarp wears out, he just replaces it with another one."

Borough Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker told Recker the borough has no control over the magistrate's fine.

"The amount is up to the magistrate," he said. "We need to keep taking action against him until the magistrate takes more action."

According to Recker, no one at the borough has been responsive to his emails about the matter.

"I understand that they have rules to follow, but they can come over and cite my neighbor for high grass and I have to put up with my neighbor's junk everywhere," he said after the meeting.

Recker fears some of the problems at the neighboring twin will damage and degrade the value of his house.

According to Dinkel-acker, Recker may need to take private civil action.

In another matter, Goldfeder reported the borough has filed a complaint against Miller's Surplus for cleanup charges from hurricane damages that occurred more than two years ago. The borough asked the company to provide Dumpsters and assist in cleanup, but the company refused. Some of the cleanup was done by local Boy Scouts.

In other business, Councilman Eugene Schlegel asked for a status on property at 464 Race St.

"The house is in need of repair. I walked through it and there is mold on the floors and areas where the roof is missing," he said. "I don't want to see another incident like Crane Street. This house is ready to come down." Goldfeder said the owner was sent a letter and the township engineer must verify if the property is safe. The house is up for sale.

"If we can keep it standing until February, we can take it down with money from the county," said Goldfeder.

The money originally designated for the Crane Street property which collapsed in July could be used for the Race Street property.

Council's next regular meeting will be held Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.