At its Nov. 26 meeting, Alburtis Borough Council approved Ordinance 512 amending the borough's local service tax from $10 per year Earned Income Tax to $52 per year payable $1 per week in pay deductions.

Anyone earning less than $12,000 per year is exempt from this tax and can apply for a refund when filing their annual taxes to the borough.

Council approved appointing Ott Consulting, Inc., civil engineers and surveyors, in Emmaus, as the borough engineer effective Jan. 1, 2014. Council also approved notifying Keystone Engineering and request the firm get everything in order to be turned over to Ott.

Council approved granting newly elected Tax Collector Samantha Trexler's request to collect taxes at Borough Hall in the meeting room the last two weeks of May and August, 2014, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Council is waiting to hear what East Penn School District is willing to donate toward a new computer for the tax collector before purchasing one.

Sikura Brothers Evacuating has successfully removed the snake that was stuck in the sewer lateral at 104 Front St. and the owners will be billed, Executive Secretary Sharon Trexler advised council.

Council President Steve Hill told council the cut off saw used to cut through paving no longer works and needs to be replaced. Council approved purchasing a new blade and saw.

In the absence of Mayor Kathleen Palmer, Trexler requested using funds from the mayor's discretionary fund to purchase items for raffles at the fire company to help with a raffle fundraiser. Council approved the use of $250.

Hill advised council if the $25,000 grant to re-write the SW Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan is approved and they go by population, the borough would be responsible to pay between $1,400 and $2,400.

At the suggestion of Trexler, council approved having the reorganization and regular meeting Jan. 6, 2014 instead of having two meetings.

Discussion on Senate Bill 1065 and the upper baseball field agenda items were deferred until the Dec. 11 meeting.