Another resident ap-proached council at the Jan. 5 meeting regarding a major discrepancy in his sewer bill. Brian Fromer, of Brookfield Drive, informed council his reported sewer usage suddenly skyrocketed due to a discrepancy between the indoor and outdoor meters of his property.

This problem has oc-curred at several borough properties and council has not made any exceptions to the subsequent bills which arise from the correct reading. This agreement was made with the Borough Authority as well.

Macungie Borough Council President Chris Becker stood by council's precedent resolution based on the fact once the meter's report is logged with the Borough Authority, usage has to be paid for. In discussion with Fromer, council made it clear if he and others with the same issue did not pay the usage fee, the money would have to come from the borough which would mean a tax hike.

Newer meters are being installed in some homes across the borough and residents are reminded to check their meters to ensure both are reading sewer and water usage correctly. Council member Debra Cope said she disagreed with council's earlier decision not to waive the fee for other residents. She said the meters in her house are reading usage incorrectly and she will probably also have to pay a large usage fee when it is corrected. Fromer agreed to pay the bill rather than fight it as it could "hurt the town."

In other business, Macungie Borough Council passed some standard resolutions and discussed updates on current projects in the borough.

The borough fee schedule for 2015 was adopted but with a marked change after some discussion on the $2,000 fee for businesses requesting a variance to the required number of parking spaces for businesses operating in the borough.

Cope said this fee has always stood out to her as odd, especially since no one has ever paid it. The borough's zoning ordinance requires a designated number of parking spots for each business, but businesses can choose to waive this requirement for specific reasons if they are willing to pay the fee. In theory the money is collected over time and used to build a parking lot– at least, in other municipalities. In Macungie it has never been collected.

David Boyko proposed lowering the fee to $500. John Yerman said maybe the zoning ordinance ought to be reviewed for the number of parking spaces per business. Council was in general agreeable to trying the lower fee for the year.

Council also passed resolutions for the designation of depositories and signatories for 2015, banners across Main Street and the cooperative purchasing agreement. Council authorized the signing of the animal control contract with Lehigh Humane Society, the Emmaus Public Library contract for 2015 and the 2014 Community Development Block Grant contract.

Council discussed a request from businessman Joe Devine for reimbursement of some borough-related expenses incurred during the construction of Lumber Street, where the new Devine School was opened last year.

The request is for $3,000 in costs from Devine's engineer. According to the solicitor, the borough agreed to consider reimbursing costs directly solely related to the borough in the construction of Lumber Street. However, council upon reviewing the bill could not determine that all or any costs were specifically related to the borough alone. John Yerman said given the way the bill was presented to council they are not inclined to reimburse the amount.

Becker did not take part in the discussion due to a conflict of interest, but said after council's decision was reached Devine did make payments to the borough for costs not directly related to his side of the project.

Council approved the appointment of James Wieder to the Borough Authority for a seat lasting through 2019, although only after a brief executive session for legal advice prompted by David Boyko. There was no further discussion on the motion to appoint Wieder but Boyko and Cope were opposed. The vote was taken twice, first as consensus then as roll-call in order to show Becker's affirmative vote as the last to break the tie between the four present council members.

Becker also noted the lack of council representation on the Borough Authority, and said there should be more interaction between council and the Authority, "so [that] we're all working for the same goal."

Council also approved the appointment of Kevin Wieder to a one-year term on the Vacancy Board.

Capital projects in the borough continue in design phase, but Becker made a request of council plans for Cotton Street be put on hold for two weeks until the next council meeting. Becker confirmed discussion would focus on potential new money coming into the project, specifically grants. Council agreed to put the engineer's work on hold until the next meeting when further discussion will occur.

The traffic light for Church Street is in design phase. The borough will submit a plan for the traffic area to the state transportation department, which has not yet approved the light but rather agreed it is warranted, according to Borough Manager Chris Boehm.

Borough solicitor Patrick Armstrong reported to council a revision had been suggested to the borough code regarding firearms by attorney Joshua Prince of the Firearms Industry Consulting Group. Prince said the borough's code may not be in compliance with firearm law.

Armstrong asked council if he should pursue discussion with the attorney; however Becker confirmed the choice of language in the borough code is compliant with the law and said he does not want to continue spending money on the issue. Another revision to the code would incur advertising costs. Roseann Schleicher agreed it should be left as is.