The 2015 general fund budget for the Borough of North Catasauqua was approved at the Dec. 9 meeting of the borough council. Details had been discussed at earlier meetings, and the proposed budget was posted in the borough office for public review for three weeks.

Before the vote, Councilman John Yanek asked for confirmation on how the reimbursement of the additional $9,000 in final costs for the new ladder truck would be handled. The additional costs for customization items had been added to the bill by the truck dealer last spring after the council had already approved the budget for the truck and secured a loan. The Charotin Fire Company later agreed to take on that additional cost. Yanek wanted to know how the payment of that bill would now be implemented.

Borough Treasurer Annette Englert indicated the fire department had cut back on some planned spending to save enough money for dealer payment. She listed the unspent amounts left in the borough's 2014 general fund budget for fire company training, vehicle lights, equipment, radios and computers, totaling $9,650, and said that could be used to pay the Horrock bill before the end of the year.

Following that discussion, the $1,513,250 budget was unanimously approved, along with the sewer fund budget in the amount of $528,650. No tax increase will be required.

In other business, Englert reported she had received a call from SBA Communications Corporation, offering to buy out a cell tower installed in the borough. Currently, the company pays the borough about $15,000 per year to lease the tower location. the offer to purchase was in the amount of $245,000.

Council members made no decision to sell at this time, but discussed the pros and cons of taking the lump sum payment versus continuing to receive the regular payments.

SBA is an independent owner of wireless communications towers, dealing in site leasing.

Also at the meeting, Cherie Gebhardt reported that the recreation committee's tree lighting event was well-attended Nov. 30. She said the committee estimated 80-100 children came to visit Santa, snack on cookies and hot chocolate and vote on their favorite gingerbread house along with their parents.

In 2015, the council will continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. This month, however, since the 2015 budgets were approved, and in observance of the Christmas holiday, the council will not meet on the fourth Tuesday.

The borough office will be closed Dec. 25 and 26.