Recent events led North Catasauqua Emergency Management Coordinator Gregg Scheirer to request some procedural revisions expected to streamline the handling of various crises in the future. He attended the March 25 borough council meeting to discuss his proposals with council members.

Councilman William Nothstein reported the borough's public safety committee had met with Scheirer about building an emergency plan that would help the emergency management team take action more quickly.

"We had to get eight signatures for a disaster declaration," Scheirer said, referring to the declaration that was signed for the Valentine's Day snowstorm. The borough was fortunate that, with a forecast of a heavy snowfall and high winds, there was a borough council meeting at which the required council signatures could be obtained just before the storm.

Council President suggested three council member signatures might be sufficient and the council agreed Solicitor William McCarthy should draft a resolution for adoption.

Another recent crisis in the borough led to a discussion of the releasing of funds in an emergency situation.

When a 4-unit apartment on Second Street began to show serious evidence of a possible sinkhole developing under its foundation March 22, fire department and emergency personnel on the scene became concerned that, if steps were not taken immediately, the building might fall into the street and become a public safety issue.

"They were not sure how much of the building was being compromised, so a contractor was called," Keglovits said.

Finding a council member who could sign off on the estimated $2-3,000 expense was more difficult, however.

Eventually, Councilman Michael Seng was contacted. He left a graduate studies class he was attending to be on the Second Street scene.

The contractor's expense was approved and will now have to be recouped from the building owner's insurance company.

Keglovits said he is concerned that if, for example, the house had collapsed into the street, the cost could have been much higher.

Council members agreed to authorize the drafting of legislation requiring additional signatures to authorize larger emergency expenses.

In other emergency management discussion at the meeting, Nothstein said the three-man team needs an additional radio, at a cost of $1090, for a third team member. The three emergency management team members are Scheirer, Roger Scheirer and Francis Hadik.

Keglovits directed borough Treasurer Annette Englert to find the money in the budget for a radio.