Several North Catasauqua residents attended the July 15 council meeting to express concerns on the condition of a property in their neighborhood.

Owners of three separate properties on Buttonwood Street spoke about overgrowth at 408 Buttonwood St. The home at that location was demolished last year after a sinkhole caused a gas leak. Since that time, the owner has allegedly not responded to any of the borough’s demands that the property be cleared out, so the remaining lot has not been maintained.

According to the residents at the meeting, vegetation on the lot has grown out of control; the neighbors on either side of the property said they can no longer see each other’s homes.

Additionally, the lot has become a home to numerous vermin and insects, it was mentioned. One resident worried a large dead tree on the lot could be at risk to fall onto his own property now that it is inhabited by bugs.

Peter Paone, borough council president, said the borough is unable to hire anyone to clean out the yard because the sinkhole makes it a potentially hazardous working environment. To add to the situation, the sinkhole cannot be dealt with further until the vegetation is cleared away.

The neighboring residents who were present at the meeting asked if it would violate any code or law for them to clean up the lot themselves. They were told there is nothing that prohibits them from doing so.

Paone could not offer a solid time frame for the issue to be dealt with beyond that but said he is leaning toward having the borough seize the property in lieu of any action from the actual owner.

In other business, road re-pavings in the area around Sixth Street have been postponed due to a machine issue. They are expected to resume once public works Supervisor Travis Brett returns from vacation.

Paone raised a motion to permit Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian to defend the borough in the lawsuit Keglovits v. North Catasauqua. The motion was carried after a unanimous vote. The matter was not discussed any further during the meeting.

Council carried a motion permitting Paone to submit a grant application to Commonwealth Financing Authority for $1,316,000 to put toward completing the section of the Delaware and Lehigh Trail, which runs through Northampton and North Catasauqua.

Paone and Mayor William Molchany brought grief counselors in over the weekend to help North Catasauqua police officers and borough officials navigate the sudden and unexpected death of Police Chief Kim Moyer.

North Catasauqua Police Department will be understaffed after this loss. Council passed a motion to hire two new 32-hour officers to better spread out the hours between the four full-time and five part-time officers.

To maintain the chain of command, Cpl. Chris Wolfer has been named officer in charge until the borough is able to hire a new police chief. Paone plans to begin advertising for the position by the end of the month.

Annette Englert, borough treasurer, announced North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St., will be decorated with thin blue-line flags to honor Moyer.

Molchany mentioned a public memorial service will be scheduled for sometime next month.

“It is only fitting tonight to remember our colleague, friend and longtime police chief, Kim Moyer,” Molchany said. “A man who has served this community for over 45 years deserves our sincere gratitude, respect and remembrance. Kim had high standards. He was a perfectionist who believed strongly in doing the job correctly and according to the book.

“Those who worked with him will miss his sense of humor and sense of honor to his community, his police officers and the department,” he added. “He is deeply missed, and we will be doing everything to keep his legacy alive.”