At the Feb. 17 North Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, council President Peter Paone provided an update on the Main Street storm drain reconstruction project.

To pay for the project, Paone said, the borough is applying for several grants, as well as a loan through PENNVEST, a state organization that specifically funds sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects.

In order to apply for the PENNVEST loan, the borough must provide specific engineering designs of the intended project. The borough’s engineer, Keystone Consulting Engineers, has already made preliminary plans, but the work required for the loan application is quoted at $28,000.

The engineering fee can be reimbursed by PENNVEST if the borough is given the loan, which Paone said is almost certain to happen.

Treasurer Annette Englert assured council members the money could be taken from this year’s sewer fund, so council voted to proceed with the engineering.

Work is not expected to begin on the Main Street storm drains until the end of this year.

In other business, Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian asked council members to send in their final comments regarding three major ordinances being prepared for advertisement and public comment.

The first ordinance covers numerous changes and additions to parking rules in the borough. These include new parking ticket fines, handicap spots, a new snow emergency route and more. Before council holds an official vote and the ordinance is adopted, the borough is required to advertise the details of the ordinance and take public comments on the matter. The advertisement is expected to go out after the next borough council meeting March 2.

The other two ordinances, which are not expected to be advertised so soon, are the certificate of occupancy ordinance and the residential rental ordinance.

The certificate of occupancy will help the borough ensure buildings are up to code and fit for human habitation. This would go a long way toward avoiding conflicts with property owners, like that which was just resolved with the property at 1020-22 Second St.

The residential rental ordinance is intended to keep track of how many renters are living in the borough and specifically to keep properties from becoming hazardously overcrowded.

These two ordinances are similarly required to be advertised and made open for public comment.

Later in the meeting, Paone announced he and Councilwoman Michele Hazzard were asked to join the Catasauqua Halloween parade committee. Catasauqua Mayor Barbara Schlegel, who led the committee for many years, recently stepped down, but members of Catasauqua Borough Council intend to keep the parade going.

In advocating for North Catasauqua’s involvement, Paone said, “Halloween is one of the biggest holidays for both boroughs, so it’s important that the parade continues.”

Borough council plans to draft an intermunicipal agreement with Catasauqua to create an official committee and open a joint checking account.

Assistant Director of Emergency Management Roger Scheirer informed council he received complaints about construction occurring at 1095 Sixth St. without permits.

After allegedly ignoring a call from the borough’s building inspector, Scheirer said, the property owner arrived at borough hall with a permit application. Scheirer said if work continues before a permit is granted, the owner will be issued a stop-work order.

Borough council’s next meeting will be 7 p.m. March 2.