Discussion of civic organization use of public works crew members to assist with community events did not lead to any resolutions at the Nov. 29 meeting of the North Catasauqua Borough Council.

The council had called for the North Catasauqua Betterment Committee to reimburse the borough for use of public works crew members during its 2016 events. Councilman Bill Nothstein reported the committee is now expressing concern about the high cost, since it is looking at an invoice for overtime payments for 22 man hours at the carnival and 5 for the golf tournament, both in June, and 52 for the October Autumnfest.

Nothstein said betterment committee members are suffering from sticker shock and wondering if it is fair to bill that committee while doing work for other community organizations without billing them as well.

Treasurer Annette Englert estimated three public works employees had worked 6-9 p.m. during the Halloween parade, for example. The overtime hours would cost the parade committee $175.

Another example she gave was the borough tree-lighting event. Should one public works employee be present to turn power on and off and troubleshoot any problems, it would cost the recreation committee $115.

And another example she gave was the J4 / Old Home Week reunion at the park at which two crew members worked eight overtime hours each, for which the borough paid $435.

The council was discussing the possibility of billing committees and organizations for use of public works hours during their event. Some are fundraising events and some are not.

Council President Peter Paone said his understanding is that discussion about reimbursement from the betterment committee was generated by knowledge of the large amount of money raised by the betterment committee during the carnival and Autumnfest.

Nothstein argued that funds raised at betterment events are solely used for the community’s benefit and that having to pay overtime rates for public works assistance cuts into the profits that could be turned back to the borough and the community.

The committee pays for such things as snowflake ornament installation, police car improvements and upgrades at the park.

“The betterment committee does a great service to the community,” Nothstein said. “We need some sort of guidance, so we can make decisions.”

A committee was formed to discuss fair distribution of costs for use of borough employees. Meeting will be Nothstein, Coucilwoman Michele Hazzard, Englert and Paone. They will report their recommendation to the council in the near future.

Nothstein asked that public works Director Al Steigerwalt compile a complete list of public work hours at major events this year, as well as an evaluation of whether or not work done at those events had kept crew members from doing other needed work in a timely manner

In other business, the council held an executive session to discuss hiring a new full-time police officer to replace Officer Thomas Pinto, who left the department in September. At the conclusion of the session, the council voted 4-1, with John Yanek and Billy Duch absent and Cherie Gebhart in opposition, to hire part-time Officer Leighton Pursell for the full-time position.

“I think he’d be a great asset to the borough and the department,” commented borough Mayor Bill Molchany Jr.

Pursell has been a part-time officer with the department for more than a year. His name was in the news in December following an incident during which he made the decision to euthanize a pet cat.

Councilman Joe Keglovits commented it is “a money-saving item” to hire someone for a fulltime position who has already worked part time, saving on training time for a new employee.

When asked why she voted in opposition to hiring Pursell, Gebhart sited “personal matters.”

Also at the meeting, only one bid was received for large-equipment rental for 2016. The council voted to accept the bid listing hourly rates presented by Lorah Excavating of Walnutport, as long as borough Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian finds everything in the bid package to be in order. Borough Secretary Nancy Knecht said one other company had called the borough office about the advertised bid but did not follow up with a bid presentation.

In the past, equipment, such as large dump trucks and backhoes, have been rented for snow removal and sinkhole repairs.

The vote was 5-0, with Councilmen Billy Duch and John Yanek absent.