At the Catasauqua workshop session Sept. 30, Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder proposed a series of ordinances and measures to be voted on at next week's regular meeting.

"We will propose to raise the cutoff value of borough property that is offered for sale. If we go above the limit, we need to advertise for bids. The limit now is $200 and the new ordinance will raise the limit to $1,000," he said. The move will allow the borough to quickly dispose of unneeded property.

Council will also vote on changing the rules on yard sales. The new rule will allow four sales per year; the present rules allow for only two sales. Homeowners conducting a yard sale will need permits or risk a getting a ticket from code enforcement.

"We are adding the enforcement provision into the new ordinance," said Goldfeder. The existing law allows only a police officer to issue an enforcement ticket. The amount of the ticket is yet to be determined, but Goldfeder suggested a fine of $300.

Council will also award a contract to revamp the 14th and Race streets intersection. The move has been in the works for months while the borough waited for grants, and is designed to control traffic where elementary students gather to cross busy Race Street.

Councilman Alfred Regits reported that a survey conducted for the borough identified 11 borough handicapped spots not in compliance with the rules that could be eliminated. The action will take place at the next council meeting.

Goldfeder reported that renovations at the sewer plant are running ahead of schedule, with a completion time estimated in January or February, well ahead of the mandatory December 2014 deadline. One of the improvements at the sewer plant is to use an ultraviolet (UV) lighting system to reduce water borne bacteria. The present system uses a chlorine-based system.

The borough tried a UV system many years ago and it was a dismal failure, with the borough suing to recover some of its costs. "The previous system failed because we did not get a good sample of the water that needed treatment," Goldfeder said. The borough conducted a nine-month sampling period this time prior to opting to install the new UV system.

Council will vote to join the Whitehall Community Revitalization and Investment Zone (CRIZ) at the next meeting. The CRIZ is a local redevelopment agency that could assist the borough in developing underutilized properties. A property that could benefit from CRIZ and often mentioned in the discussion is the brownfield on Front Street.

Councilman Eugene Schlegel reported that the town's digital sign is in operation on Front Street near the intersection with Second Street. It is blinking near the intersection with Second Street with a Catasauqua welcome message and a reminder of Fest-O-Fall, scheduled Oct. 5, noon to 5 p.m. Activities are spread across the borough.

Family activities and the food court will be concentrated around the Biery House and the George Taylor House. Vendors will line Front Street and be connected with a hayride.

The annual Halloween parade is on the calendar for Oct. 16.