Old Home Week committee member Ben Ferenchak attended last Tuesday's meeting of the North Catasauqua Borough Council to update the council on the early stages of planning a Catasauqua High School reunion event for July 5, 2014. The reunion committee is sending flyers to representatives of graduating classes to announce a reunion gathering at the North Catasauqua Park, in coordination with J4 (Independence Day) events also being planned by the 2014 J4 Committee.

Ferenchak confirmed he will work with the J4 committee on the reunion planning. He said he hopes to secure sponsorships to cover the cost of renting tents to put up at the park.

"It's up to you guys to tell me where we can place the tents," he said.

A local business owner has offered to provide free beer to registered reunion attendees. The Old Home Week committee is looking into the cost of the required liability insurance for serving beer, and may have to drop the plan if it is too costly.

"If I'm not allowed to have it, that's fine with me," Ferenchak said.

The J4 celebration typically includes ball games, activities and food vending at the park all day long, with fireworks at sundown. Ferenchak said the Old Home Week reunion would most likely be from noon to 3 p.m. only.

It was emphasized that the beer would not be sold, but would be complimentary for reunion attendees. Borough Solicitor William McCarthy said he is not sure whether selling tickets to a reunion party where beer is served is legally the same as selling beer. He recommended Ferenchak check with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. While it is permitted to serve beer to guests at a park event, selling alcoholic beverages is not allowed.

Council members were assured at the conclusion of the conversation with Ferenchak that he would be coordinating with the J4 committee and updating the borough as decisions are made and the event planning continues.

In other business, with Councilman John Yanek, William McGinley and Michael Seng absent, the council voted 4-0 to approve the proposed borough budget for 2014. A final vote of approval will occur at a special meeting this month, at a date to be determined after consultation with the missing council members.

Council members are currently reviewing 15 applications for the position of borough public works department supervisor. They will compose a short list of candidates they wish to interview and hope to make the selection by sometime in January.

Also at the meeting, council President Joseph Keglovits said the borough received an estimate from the First Regional Compost Authority (FRCA) regarding the cost to the borough to acquire a membership. At an earlier meeting, the council decided to inquire about the possibility of signing on for a two-year membership that would allow residents to drop off yard waste (such as felled trees that are too large to place at the curb for refuse pickup) at the Weaversville Road facility.

The FRCA normally offers only three-year memberships, but the council requested a quote for a two-year membership so the contract renewal would coincide with the renewal of the borough's refuse contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons.

Keglovits said the price quoted was $9,401.70 per year and an additional $1,137 to send out postcards informing residents of the program.

"We can look this over and decide what we want to do," Keglovits said. The information had arrived in the mail only a few hours before the council meeting, not enough time to evaluate the numbers for discussion during the meeting.