Catasauqua Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder announced the borough and the union bargaining for the borough’s public works department employees should agree on a final contract soon.

“We have resolved the contentious areas, and we have a tentative agreement,” he said. “There may be some minor details that need to be ironed out, but that should be the extent of any changes.”

Goldfeder would not release the details of the contract until it is ratified by union members.

“It is 98-percent acceptable,” he said.

Goldfeder asked council to approve the contract as long as there are no substantial changes.

The council approved the budget number for police and non-uniformed employee pension plans. According to Goldfeder, the minimum contribution is $222,000, but the borough expects to receive a state supplement of $127,000. State supplements are provided by a tax on insurance policies written in the state by companies not headquartered in the state.

“That pretty much means every insurance company except Erie Insurance,” he said.

Erie is headquartered in Erie, Pa.

In other business, the council denied a request from Allentown Steel Fabricators for relief from billing for a water leak. Councilwoman Debra Mellish recommended the borough bill the owner for the water used. After he was notified he had a leak, the owner located the leak and made necessary repairs.

Municipal water systems across Pennsylvania in the best of shape lose approximately 10 percent of the water sent out of the plant.

Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder reports water production on a monthly basis. According to his latest report, the borough sent out an average of 744,000 gallons per day. The minimum loss in the borough-operated distribution system is 70,000 gallons a day. Goldfeder does not report on unaccounted-for or unbilled revenues in his report.

Councilman Eugene Schlegel voted to give Allentown Steel Fabricators relief from the charges. After the meeting, Schlegel indicated he thought the amount of unbilled water in Catasauqua’s system was more than 10 percent.

Also at the meeting, to assist with the construction of the municipal building at the Iron Works site, the council passed an ordinance to restrict parking along Front Street where it may block construction vehicles from turning onto the roadway.

The council anticipates passing another parking restriction further down on Front Street to allow access to the Iron Works site by emergency vehicles.

Council members also agreed to pay an outstanding legal bill from FL Smidth. The legal costs were incurred when FL Smidth offered to donate land along the canal that was a former company rail line. According to FL Smidth, the borough had agreed to pay all legal costs incurred in the transfer.

The borough, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Delaware & Lehigh Trail officials are interested in the spur as an enhancement to the D&L Trail. This improved trail section will provide a connector between trail sections in Hanover Township and North Catasauqua Borough.

The trail in North Catasauqua is currently being improved with grant funding, but no action has been taken to improve the Catasauqua portion.

Councilman Brian Mc- Kittrick was clearly frustrated with demand for payment of the FL Smidth legal bill because all action on the land transfer is stopped.

“They are holding us hostage,” he said. “We have heard for decades how the D&L Trail will be improved,” he said. “But nothing ever happens.”

McKittrick was persuaded to go along with the payment provided that FL Smidth understands no other payments for legal expenses would be made unless reviewed by council.