Mary Beth Salla and Robert Grinnage approached the Catasauqua Borough Council at its Oct. 7 meeting to voice their concerns about controlling vandalism in the area around their property at 304 Church St.

"We have had teens running through the alley [Hickory and Limestone streets] with BB guns and they have damaged our car," Salla said. The local youth are using Hickory Street, a narrow street behind Church Street, as a playground, where one of the neighbors put a basketball hoop on the edge of their property.

"The hoop is so low and sticks into the street that I almost hit it with our truck," said borough Public Works Director Jeff MacHose.

"I think it's kids coming in from outside the neighborhood that cause the problems," Grinnage said.

The couple claimed they have discussed the problem with their neighbors, but have met with resistance and abusive language. "We ask that the police issue citations to help stop some of these problems," said Salla. She indicated police respond when called, but nothing seems to stop the incidents from repeating.

Also at the meeting, Leonard Witt, who owns Witt Tree Service, voiced his concern over handicapped sidewalk ramps placed near his home and at his business at 738 Front St. Witt said he and borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder had discussed how the ramps would be constructed before the project starts.

"These cuts are nothing like we discussed and they present a liability," Witt said. Goldfeder agreed that a problem exists and said he already had a meeting scheduled with the contractor to resolve the situation.

In other action, Councilman Alfred Regits reported that the borough issued notices to people in the area of 11 handicapped spaces that, in the borough's research, did not meet the requirements for a handicapped space.

"We have not heard anything from the residents," said Regits. "We will begin to remove the spots if we don't hear anything."

Council also approved an ordinance that allows the borough to sell property valued at less than $1,000 without a formal bid process. According to Goldfeder, the new ordinance requires the borough determine value by contacting five vendors who regularly deal with similar property. The minimum price is the second lowest value submitted by the vendors. The borough then has three days to receive and award the purchase. Council approves all sales once a purchase offer is received.

Also at the meeting, the council approved a contract with Telco, Inc., for $26,467 to revamp the traffic signals at 14th and Race streets. The project is designed to increase the safety of elementary school students crossing the street at that intersection.

The borough will change its banking relationship to National Penn Bank in a move approved by council.

"The change will save us some money and will provide better services," said Goldfeder in his request.

Council approved a change order for $38,700 to replace digester-mixing tubes at the Wastewater Treatment Plant's primary digester system. The digester is under repair and the replacement of the tubes was anticipated.

"We could get away with just repairing the tubes and save $10,000, but this solution will keep the system intact and operational for decades," Goldfeder said.

Councilwoman Jessica Kroope asked about eliminating fluoride in the borough's drinking water. Goldfeder indicated that the complex process to eliminate fluoride requires modifications to the authorization that established the water department.

"The change would require local hearings," said Goldfeder. "There are almost as many people that want fluoride added as want it stopped."