Residents in North Catasauqua who rake their leaves to the curb after Nov. 30 will be fined by the borough, following the drafting and passage of a new leaf ordinance.

Borough council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. After final enactment, a resident who places leaves at the curb after Nov. 30 or who commingles other types of waste in a leaf pile can be fined $100 for a first offense, $300 for a second offense and up to $1,000 for three or more offenses.

Also at the meeting, a proposed preliminary 2014 general budget of $1,479,946 and sewer budget of $528,650 were presented by council President Joseph Keglovits and borough Treasurer Annette Englert.

Lincoln Street resident Mark Gioielli asked the council if any steps would be taken to ensure borough residents have a place to dispose of yard waste.

While leaves are collected by the borough and bundles and bags of small yard waste can be left at the curb for weekly refuse pickup, the borough does not offer a solution for disposing of larger yard waste, such as tree limbs.

Gioielli had attended meetings earlier, promoting the idea of the borough joining the First Regional Compost Authority on Weaversville Road, Allen Township.

Council President Joseph Keglovits said the cost to the borough to become a member of the authority would be "about $7,800 to $8,500," adding that there might be room in the budget for it if the council approves.

Gioielli said membership would entitle borough residents to drop off large yard waste and that a perk of membership would be that every property owner in North Catasauqua would then be entitled to free screened dirt and 5 yards of mulch per year.

"We don't have to decide that tonight," Keglovits said. "The money's there if we decide we want to do it."

Other items not specifically in the budget that could use up that available money are a new roof for borough hall and new cameras for borough police use.

A final vote on the budget approval is expected to take place at the Dec. 10 council meeting.

Also at the meeting, Councilman John Yanek said he received a letter being circulated by the Old Home Week committee, seeking donations to support the community event. The letter says a reunion is planned for the North Catasauqua Park during the 2014 event.

In a discussion with borough recreation committee members, reunion committee chair Ben Ferenchak had proposed offering beer at the event, but the letter makes no mention of that.

What did concern council members was that the committee has not contacted the borough about the event.

"It would appear they think they have the park [reserved]," Keglovits said. The council president is not against holding the reunion at the park but said they need to talk to the borough about their plans first.

Yanek said he would contact Ferenchak and discuss it with him.