Four candidates vying for three seats on the Catasauqua Borough Council took part in a Candidates' Night panel discussion last Tuesday.

Sponsored by the Catasauqua Main Street business organization, the public event was held in the Catasauqua Library's conference room.

Participants in the moderated panel were Democratic candidates Christine Weaver, Debra Melish and incumbent Vincent Smith and Republican Mica (Mitzi) Smith.

They fielded questions from moderators Kimberly Brubaker and David Harth of Main Street. Audience members were also encouraged to submit questions to the candidates.

In their opening remarks, there was agreement on visions that each candidate had for the borough. Each expressed a commitment to the borough's recently purchased brownfield on Front Street, to pursue building a new emergency services center and borough hall, to the need for more tax revenue and to encouraging more community pride.

Weaver, a realtor, envisions an emphasis on residential development.

"I see the need to create an old town center that residents can walk to," she said. "My experience says that people are looking for walkable communities."

Vincent Smith sees Front Street as the borough's weakest link.

"We need to stabilize the downtown core," he said. He wants to see maximum square footage on the site, including 200-plus residential units, which would require a council vote on a revision to the zoning ordinance.

Weaver sees the area along the riverfront as an entertainment district with access to the water.

Mitzi Smith insisted the borough develop a plan that the community supports before starting the project.

Tax revenues were a big topic. Melish did not think tax revenue from the development of the Front Street would be enough to pay the debt incurred by the borough for constructing new municipal facilities. She also emphasized the development needs to integrate with the downtown area.

Mitzi Smith said attracting more businesses to the downtown area would take time.

Weaver agreed and cited blighted buildings along Front Street as areas that need improvement.

Melish said she is opposed to the Community Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) initiative, while the other candidates are more open to reviewing potential options. CRIZ is an intermunicipal tax abatement plan designed to reduce taxes for businesses that locate in the zone, but the plan does not support residential development.

All the candidates are happy with services presently provided by the borough.

"We get good value for our tax dollars," Melish said. "I managed budgets in my job as an engineer and I will watch our budget closely, but I don't think there is any low hanging fruit."

Weaver wants to improve code enforcement and get more community involvement.

"I like to work with as many people as I can and I feel comfortable that I can get the job done," she said.

Mitzi Smith agreed volunteerism and civic pride are important.

"We work together, but this is an aging community," she said. "Some of the older residents don't have the same pep as the younger people do."

A question from the audience on term limits sparked a discussion.

Vincent Smith said he is in favor of limits, explaining that, if elected, this would probably be his last term. The other candidates were more willing to let each council member and voters decide.

Weaver expects to serve one term.

"I want to pass it on to someone. I don't want to hog all the fun," she said.

Another question on losses at the municipal pool prompted some thought on taking it private.

Mitzi Smith wants to see the pool remain open. Weaver is not sure how big the problem is.

"Everything I see is that the trends are up," she said. "You can't take away a pool and a park from the community."

In their closing remarks, the new candidates pledged to work with new and old members of council.

"Based on my experience with at-risk kids, I can find a way to work together," Weaver said. "I want to focus on the task and not on the politics."

Melish said she is anxious to work with a new group of people and pledged to work with everyone.

Mitzi Smith commented on her experience on the council.

"All of us on council worked together to get things done. We could not do it alone," she said. "We had disagreements, but we did what we needed to do."

Vincent Smith listed his accomplishments across his terms in office as developing a comprehensive plan for Front Street, bringing the Blues Jam to the borough, purchasing the George Taylor House, passing a rental license ordinance, implementing a façade grant program, and giving back his salary to create a skate ramp at municipal park. He said that he helped mentor eight new businesses in Catasauqua.

Election Day is Nov. 5.