At Catasauqua’s workshop session Monday, Councilwoman Christine Weaver reported ordinances are prepared to allow two-way traffic on Front Street. When questioned about how parking would be handled, Weaver acknowledged some spaces need to be taken to ensure an efficient traffic flow.

“The parking committee that we have will continue to work on how we can handle parking,” she said. “We are not planning to implement the change until April 1, so we can have plenty of time to sort out problems.”

Council President Vincent Smith agreed with Weaver’s assessment.

“We are only voting at the next meeting to make Front Street two way,” he said. “We need to start somewhere, and making Front Street two way is the first step.”

According to Smith, he does not see reductions in parking around residential properties.

“We will see some of the commercial spots taken, so we can get good traffic flow,” he said.

Councilman Brian McKittrick is looking to control parking on some of the borough’s side streets to ensure safety vehicles can make it down narrow streets. Presently, the focus is on Crane and Limestone streets.

Director of Public Works Jeff MacHose noted many narrow alleys allow parking that could impede safety vehicles.

In other business, Councilwoman Debra Mellish presented the issue of crediting sewer charges for water leaks or excess usage. According to Mellish, the borough does not allow a credit for sewer charges in an instance where someone fills a pool. Some pool owners fill their pools with a private vendor like Aqua-Duck. Councilman Brian Bartholomew questioned the policy.

“Why wouldn’t we want the borough to get the money for the water?” he asked.

Aqua-Duck fills some of its trucks with water from Catasauqua. The item will continue to be discussed.

Also at the meeting, borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder reported the borough’s new fire truck will pass through town in November on its way to a final accessory installation in Ohio. Until the new municipal complex is ready, the borough is working with Leonard Witt, at Witt’s Tree Service, who has space available to house the new unit. Current fire department facilities will not support the weight of the new truck.

The borough has an option on land along the Lehigh River now owned by FL Smidth. Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker has been working to get a consensus on the wording of a final agreement. One bit of contention is some business owners along the tract have encroached on the right of way.

MacHose noted the business owners are discussing options with Norfolk & Southern Railway, but the solicitor and FL Smidth are under the impression they own the right of way.

“These railway rights of way are tricky, often going back hundreds of years,” Dinkelacker said. “I don’t think they would be offering us a quitclaim deed if they didn’t own it.”

The ownership of the actual rail hardware will be the subject of a future meeting with FL Smidth’s attorneys.