Catasauqua residents will now be limited to four garage sales during any given year. A decsion by the borough council concerning the number and type of garage sales that will be allowed at single locations in the borough was settled at council's meeting on Aug. 4.

The discussion about garage sales and how to control them has continued off and on for almost two years. Although the matter is not of the highest priority, council wanted to add some definition around the matter.

The changes to the ordinance allow anyone to have up to four garage sales per year. The number of sales was significant to Councilwoman Deb Mellish who led the effort to get the ordinance adopted.

"We don't want to have a situation where someone is running a [resale/consignment] business out of their house," she said.

The number of sales was a compromise reached after some debate. Originally, proposals ranged from two sales to unlimited sales.

Every garage sale in the borough requires homeowners to get a permit. In the past, only the code enforcement officer could enforce garage-sale permits. The new ordinance allows police officers and code enforcement to check for permits.

Garage-sale permits can be obtained from the borough.

Council also voted to back legislation pending in Harrisburg that would allow local police to use the same equipment as state police when tracking speeders. Essentially, it means that the borough could use radar devices to control speeding.

According to borough Police Chief Douglas Kish, Pennsylvania is the only state that does not permit the use of radar at the local level.

Opponents of the program contend that using radar at the local level is a revenue-generating scheme. The change to allow radar has not been passed by the Pennsylvania legislature.

Councilwoman Christine Weaver made several motions to move the Front Street project forward.

The name of the project will be Iron Works Catasauqua PA. Weaver and her committee are working on the official logo. Weaver also proposed that council select Spillman Farmer Architects as the lead architect for the proposed municipal complex.

She also asked for approval so that the Pidcock Company, the borough's engineers, can begin site development work.

The council approved all three measures unanimously.

The council's general government committee has been investigating tapping fees for renovated buildings.

Property owners at 208 Front St. and 209 Canal St. have questioned new tapping fees levied against their properties. Both property owners indicated that they were not aware of the fees before purchasing the property.

The borough has a rule that if a property changes use, then any attempt to change it back to its original use triggers a new tapping fee.

Both properties were originally set as multi-unit buildings. The use was changed and now the new owners are bringing the properties back to the original use.

According to the developers, tapping fees are a significant extra expense.

Mellish, who heads the committee, indicated at a previous meeting that new tapping fees could put a damper on redeveloping the downtown business district.

At this meeting, Mellish would only commit to continuing her committee's investigation into the matter.

Mellish is researching borough records to determine if tapping fees were ever paid by prior property owners.

Also at the meeting, Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich explained to council and one concerned resident that property along the Lehigh River, a former rail bed, will be included in land granted to the borough from FL Smidth.

"We anticipate that will happen soon," he said. Part of the transferred property is located in North Catasauqua.

Dimmich indicated details on how the property would be allocated between the boroughs are still being worked out.

Residents along the property are asked to watch for unauthorized visitors.