At the May 10 meeting of Coplay Borough Council, borough Secretary Sandra Gyecsek read correspondence from Department of Conservation and Natural Resources indicating the department is seeking a grant to complete 3.8 miles of trail connecting Ironton Rail Trail (IRT) to D&L Trail’s Cementon Trailhead.

“We have seen this request before, but it looks as if we have a better chance to get the grant this time around,” Councilman David Royer said.

The roadblock always has been negotiating with Norfolk & Southern Railroad, which controls the property.

“With all the other projects going on, the property is now landlocked. It might be a good opportunity,” Royer continued.

The proposed connector will increase the usability of the trail and most likely increase the number of walkers and bike riders on the trail.

The IRT is paved; the D&L Trail is packed gravel.

In other news, council awarded a contract to Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding for roofing repairs to the borough hall and bath house.

“We think it’s best that both projects be handled by the same contractor,” Councilman Charles Sodl said.

Kunsman was the lowest bidder, although the contract for the repairs was higher than the insurance estimate. The bid will repair roofs damaged by the winter storm.

“The alternate option was to completely replace the roofs … but we checked it out, and we did not need a full replacement,” Sodl said.

With the bid cost and details, the borough will re-enter negotiations with the insurance carrier to increase the insurance payout.

Council approved hiring Nicholas Hartman as a part-time police officer contingent upon a clean background check.

The fire department announced it will hold its annual coin toss from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 28.

Councilwoman Janet Eisenhauer received approval to renegotiate the terms of the borough’s General Obligation Note. The solicitor will review the terms.

Commercial notes mature every five years. Notes are generally reviewed at the five-year increment, and interest is adjusted to be in line with existing market rates.

The Bacon Strip will run the concession stand at the pool. The Bacon Strip also ran the concession stand last year.

In conversations with Mayor Dean Molitoris, Coplay Sports Inc. indicated some concern with the agreement the American Legion made with Coca-Cola. The concern is dividing the park areas for Legion baseball and Coplay Sports activities.

A preliminary map circulated among the two groups shows a temporary fence. The Legion identifies the fence as a temporary marker primarily for the benefit of Coca-Cola to show where the fields divide. Coplay Sports is looking at the temporary fence in a different way.

The two groups will get together to work out a solution to their perceptions and formalize sharing agreements.