Alburtis Borough council members discussed possible solutions to the problem of mailboxes at apartments and in buckets and planters on streets in the borough for approximately 45 minutes at their meeting Oct. 29.

Residents must follow the post office requirements, David Knerr, borough solicitor, advised and mailboxes must not be mounted in concrete. Knerr said residents must be told where they can place their mailboxes and a permit process must be followed.

Council members leaned toward the ideal solution of having mailboxes anchored to a post with a bracket or sleeve bolted or drilled into concrete.

Some borough residents were not aware they need permits and it was suggested residents could be notified by mail of the borough's intent.

The post office rules might be changing, Executive Secretary Sharon Trexler said.

Alburtis Council President Steve Hill and some of the other councilpersons were concerned because this could affect 800 people and some, especially the elderly, are not all financially able to anchor their mailboxes.

Some residents have installed planter or milk can mailboxes.

"I would not be a happy person if I had to get rid of my pretty mailbox and pretty flowers I bought," Councilperson Kathleen Raines said.

Councilpersons John Aleszczyk and Sherryann Oels agreed.

The discussion changed briefly to apartment mailboxes and it was suggested those boxes be addressed first.

"Multi-unit cluster boxes would solve the issue," Aleszczyk said.

A motion was passed to authorize Trexler to write to two apartment owners and ask the owners to install multi-unit cluster mailboxes.

A motion to authorize the solicitor to begin the process of starting an ordinance for mailboxes was defeated. Councilpersons Margaret McCormack and David Lehr voted yes. The remaining members of council voted no.

Other meeting business included approval of the meeting minutes, payment of bills and accepting the treasurer's report. An executive session requested by Mayor Kathleen Palmer took approximately five minutes.

The garbage collection bid was tentatively awarded. On a recommendation from Knerr, a motion passed to tentatively accept a bid from the lowest responsible bidder, Solid Waste Services, Inc., d/b/a J.P. Mascaro & Sons.

Borough council tentatively accepted Mascaro's bid for a five-year contract for garbage and recycling service in the borough with the option of extending the contract a sixth year.

Branches and other yard waste must be taken to the Dumpster as usual and the borough will pay for removal to a land fill.

Council passed a motion to authorize Knerr to draw up the required ordinances and secure the necessary documents. Donald Grim, operations manager for Mascaro, was the only bidder present at the meeting.

Old borough records are piling up and Trexler advised council members of the need to purge the older files. To comply with rules required to be followed by municipalities, Council passed Resolution No. 2014-12 stating the intent to dispose of the records and the years needing to be purged. Council passed another motion approving the purging of those records. These records will be removed from the borough and stored in a facility in Allentown.

New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, doing business as AT&T, granted an extension to the borough to Feb. 27, 2015 to hold a conditional use hearing for a cell tower.

Council accepted an offer from Allstate Agency to visit and explain the Allstate benefits.

A letter was received from Lehigh County Authority providing an update on Act 537.

LCA sent a letter requesting another extension regarding USEPA Administrative Order CWA-03-2009-0313DN. Hill will attend the next meeting.

Trexler requested authorization to change the borough's accounts to ESSA Bank and council passed a motion granting her request.

The firefighters painted the sanctuary area of Lockridge Church, Trexler said. Trexler thanked them for a job well done.

There is a problem with trucks over 35 feet long traveling along Main Street between Franklin and School streets. The trucks have accidently knocked down signs and destroyed grass in yards. It was also suggested trucks, except for local deliveries, be prohibited from Third Street to School Street. Knerr recommended passing an ordinance to stop the trucks and prevent future damage and council approved the recommendation.

The meeting adjourned 9:05 p.m. and immediately went into an executive session to discuss collective bargaining, expecting no action to be taken.