A representative from Keystone Engineering Group appeared before North Catasauqua Borough Council Sept. 16 to explain the results of two studies conducted in the borough.

First, the group mapped out the possibility of building retaining walls at the 1460 Main St. municipal complex, which houses the public works facility. Presently, several hills at that site make much of the land unusable. With a few retaining walls, there would be enough flat ground for the construction of a new greenway, a wider sidewalk on Main Street and additional municipal structures needed in the future.

The three proposed walls would cost $500,000 to $600,000 each. It would be possible to only do some of the three, and the constructions could be sequenced, so the work doesn’t need to be done at once, it was noted.

Borough council President Peter Paone said the project could be funded, at least in part, by a grant that supports the construction of green space. He also hopes to have the municipal complex recognized as a site of historical significance, as the land was originally a cement quarry.

One option for the construction of the retaining walls includes having them carved to look like natural rock, emulating the original quarry. If this is done, Paone believes grants can also be sought out under the rationale of preserving historical essence.

Keystone Engineering also conducted a storm sewer analysis for two intersections in that area - Green and Main streets, which is the collection point for 44 acres of drainage area, and Fourth and Cypress streets, which includes 87 acres of drainage area. Residents have complained about those streets flooding for years, but recent storms have led to worse flooding than ever, it was mentioned.

For the Green and Main streets area, a storm measured as the worst in 25 years would require eight drain inlets at the intersection - and even then, there would be 2 inches of water on every inlet. Since having eight inlets in a single intersection does not solve the problem, Keystone plans to install the inlets throughout Green Street between Washington and Lincoln streets. This will require all new infrastructure, and a cost of around $267,000, which Paone said could likely be covered at least partly by grants.

Analysis is not yet complete on the Fourth and Cypress streets area, but the Keystone representative will return at the next council meeting with the findings from that study.

The public works department announced the paving on Sixth and Cherry streets was expected to begin Sept. 17.

Based on a public comment at the last borough meeting, the public works department looked into painting crosswalk lines across Arch Street into the North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St. The department determined there is no viable place for an official crosswalk, so the borough will consider using signage instead.

Borough council took an executive session to discuss the five interviews conducted to find the new chief of police. After a lengthy deliberation, the meeting reconvened and council asked Cpl. Chris Wolfer to remain as acting chief for the time being.

Councilwoman Cherie Gebhardt brought up complaints she has gotten from neighbors regarding planes flying over their neighborhoods late at night. Councilman Joseph T. Keglovits explained Lehigh Valley International Airport is temporarily using its side runway - which routes over North Catasauqua - while the main runway is under construction.

Paone added that LVIA is currently in regional planning, so official comments and complaints can be made on the website flyabe.com.

Council discussed options for purchasing shade umbrellas to be installed at the park. Pairs of 12- or 15-foot-wide umbrellas are sold for approximately $7,500 and $8,500, respectively. Council members considered which size was appropriate, and where they could be placed, but did not make a final decision.

Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian told council he received no response from the owner of 408 Buttonwood St., a now-empty lot that had drawn previous complaints about overgrown vegetation. He noted the next step would be deciding whether or not to seize the property. Council voted to go ahead with the seizure, with the plan to sell the land soon afterward.

Following up another complaint from the last meeting, the solicitor presented council with the option of two tentative ordinances that would address the ownership of roosters and other animals in the borough. One ordinance specifically prohibits certain animals; the other allows certain animals but requires the owner to have a permit for them. Wolfer confirmed there is no state law against owning chickens, unless they are used as competition prizes or biological weapons.

In his police report, Wolfer said the late Chief Kim Moyer’s squad car - No. 79 - has been outfitted with a new cage and radio and will be ready to be put back into service after inspection.

Officer Antonio Tramonte of the North Catasauqua Police Department will be awarded the Top Gun Award by the Pennsylvania DUI Association for an outstanding contribution to the enforcement of DUI laws. He will be presented with the award at the association’s 40th annual meeting Oct. 24 in Pittsburgh.

The North Catasauqua Betterment Committee will hold the Autumnfest and car show 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 13 at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park.