After months of delays, the Borough of North Catasauqua will finally be getting a website.

Web technician Eric DeLabar attended the April 22 borough council meeting to discuss his proposal for developing a new site.

DeLabar said his rate is $75 an hour to design the site according to input from the borough office.

The site will be used to announce borough events, publicize regulations and fees, identify key borough personnel and other information.

The council approved DeLabar's proposal, 4-0, with Councilmen John Yanek, Peter Paone and Michael Seng absent.

Borough Treasurer Annette Englert questioned DeLabar concerning how much data entry he would be responsible for.

He encouraged the staff to send him as much information as possible via email and electronic files so he does not have to type in long segments.

Councilwoman Michelle Hazzard volunteered to do some typing, if only hard copy is available of items to be input.

Councilwoman Cherie Gebhart volunteered to open the municipal building if needed on weekends or evenings so DeLabar can work after hours.

DeLabar said once the website is activated, the "admin. tool" is very easy to use, so office personnel should be able to update items.

He said the website address of Northcatasauqua.org is available. The annual fee for the domain name is $192.

Activation of the website is expected to reduce the number of phone calls fielded by office personnel, as residents will go first to the website to get information for which they must now call.

In other business, the council denied a request by Ben Ferenchak, on behalf of Catasauqua's Old Home Week committee, for use of the borough's Main Street public works property for a parking area during the summer event.

The committee wants to designate a number of satellite parking areas on July 5, expected to draw many former residents to the area, and will offer shuttle service to get people to the North Catasauqua Park, where an Old Home Week Reunion and J4 are planned.

Council President Joe Keglovits said he did not think it was a good idea to use the Main Street lot because there is not much parking there and because it would need to be monitored by someone.

The gated area is also not marked for parking, so people would possibly park other cars in. In addition, the unpaved areas are very soft and could cause vehicles to get stuck.

Council members suggested requesting use of the parking lot at St. Lawrence Church or the Jednota Club.

Also at the meeting, council members discussed an anonymous complaint they received about the Hickory Grove greenhouse business using American Street for storing items on pallets.

American Street, a "paper alley," is not a borough-owned street, but it is required such a street be kept open for the residents who live in the area to have access.

Solicitor William McCarthy said he will review case law on the situation, which is often vague, and will advise council as to the options available to officials at the May 14 council meeting.