At North Catasauqua Borough Council’s regular meeting June 15, Councilwoman Cherie Gebhardt asked Police Chief Chris Wolfer about the use of fireworks in the borough. She said she had gotten numerous complaints about the loud mortars and firecrackers that are set off around Catasauqua and North Catasauqua boroughs on a regular basis.

Fire Chief Shawn McGinley pointed out setting off fireworks is only allowed on private property if there is at least 150 feet of space from another property.

Council President Peter Paone pointed out the only way to legally set off fireworks in North Catasauqua is to do so “on the golf course, if you own the golf course.”

Wolfer plans to work with Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian to ensure the current ordinance on fireworks is consistent with this law, and once they’re sure that it is, they will publicize and enforce it.

In other business, Treasurer Annette Englert announced the borough received $2,750 in donations for a memorial honoring the late police chief Kim Moyer.

The public works department plans to erect a memorial in front of borough hall, 1066 Fourth St., next month on the anniversary of Moyer’s death.

Paone reported all the paperwork for the Main Street municipal complex project has been submitted, and work on the project can be expected to begin in the next few weeks. Phases 1 and 2A of the project - which will see a public two-way road built off Main Street - are estimated to finish before the end of 2021.

Emergency Management Director Roger Scheirer reported a complaint from a resident of Grove Street about a strong chemical odor in the area. The resident suspected the odor originated from a business on Howertown Road, but Scheirer was unable to trace the source of the odor.

Paone said any resident who smells the odor should call the Northampton County nonemergency number, and a member of the fire department will come out to help find the source.

Borough council concluded the meeting with further discussion on reopening North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park. Councilwoman Jessica Cope urged council and borough officials to formulate an official plan for the park that would coincide with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s phases for reopening.

Based on her suggestion and input from other members, council decided the equipment and facilities at the park will be reopened during the yellow and green phases but will close once again if the county is ever returned to the red phase. During any return to the red phase, however, the open-air areas of the park will remain open.

This reopening will be accompanied by the installation of signs, informing visitors they are playing at their own risk. The borough also plans to install hand sanitizer dispensers at the park but have yet to receive the dispensers, which were ordered at the start of the pandemic.