After Catasauqua Borough Council’s regular meeting April 1, council members met in closed session to discuss the sale of the East End Fire Station. The building became obsolete with the new municipal building and was in a poor state of repair.

The borough bid the building and awarded it to council President Vincent Smith. Several council members thought the transaction may have irregularities and postponed the final approval at council’s January meeting.

Smith was the high bidder for the property and, as a show of good faith, spent money to repair the property and prevent further water damage.

The borough has a long-standing interest in the building for $1,500, which caused some concern. At the end of the executive session, council made no decisions and allowed the property to transfer to Smith as originally agreed.

In other business, Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker reported that a draft agreement on the sale of the old municipal building is complete. The agreement will be circulated among council members and is expected to be discussed at the workshop meeting at the end of the month.

The solicitor is also preparing the final draft of the agreement for the Iron Works.

After the meeting, borough Manager Stephen Travers agreed to a change in the water report he makes monthly. In the future, water available to the system and the water billed will be part of the report. The difference is an efficiency measure of the system.

Police Chief Douglas Kish reported about 40 citations were issued for motorists violating restrictions on Race Street.

“The restrictions that we put in place at DnD Market, Poplar Street, Faith Street and 10th Street seem to be having some effect. We are seeing less trucks on the roads,” he said.

Mayor Barbara Schlegel’s emergency resolution implementing traffic restrictions is scheduled to expire at the end of the month. Council is expected to renew the restrictions on Pineapple Street, which is accessible off Union Street but is blocked at DnD Market and Race Street.

Schlegel suggested a sign that says no outlet be placed at the intersection of Union and Pineapple streets.

Council is considering restricting traffic on 14th Street. The pavement is rapidly deteriorating with the increased volume of trucks using the road as a bypass.

Brett Butler resigned from Catasauqua Borough Planning Commission. There are two openings on the commission. According to Christine Weaver, who chairs the committee, there are applicants asking for consideration. Anyone else seeking to apply is urged to submit a resume.

Township Engineer Ronald Gawlik reported plans for street improvements for Front Street are approved. The Front Street project is under Transportation Alternative Planning funding. Some adjustments were made at the workshop session to rework expensive street lighting. The original proposal consumed much of the available funding. The new proposal is expected to produce an acceptable level of lighting for pedestrians.

Council is aware residents are enjoying the extensive variety of prepared food provided by the food trucks that frequent Friday night concerts, special events and the George Taylor House.

With that in mind, council is proposing a $100 permit fee for each truck, reportedly for a health inspection. Food trucks are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and have state regulations they are required to meet.