North Catasauqua Borough Council held its July 20 meeting both in person and virtually. Several borough officials and council members met in the basement of borough hall for a socially distanced meeting, while others joined virtually through video conference.

Marc Hillenbrand, of North Catasauqua Betterment Committee, came before council to request permission to use North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park to hold two car cruises this summer and the annual Autumnfest celebration this fall.

The car cruises - which easily allow for social distancing - were approved and scheduled for Aug. 3 and Sept. 7.

Autumnfest, however, required further discussion as that event typically garners a large crowd. Hillenbrand explained his committee plans to limit the event to 40 crafters and 150 cars at the festival’s car show. He noted the event will not include the typical eating contests and kids’ activities.

Borough council approved the event to be scheduled for Oct. 11, with the condition council maintains the right to impose further restrictions or cancel the event at any time based on concerns of COVID-19.

The park will also host two concerts this year, thanks to funding from the Northampton County Hotel Tax grant. Ryan Tennis will perform at the park Sept. 1, and Stephanie Johnson will perform Oct. 17.

Borough Secretary Tasha Jandrisovitz reported six homes have been sold in the newly constructed Willowbrook Estates development, four of which are in North Catasauqua.

The borough received an estimated cost of $22,000 from Keystone Consulting Engineers for engineering, surveying and preliminary construction on the beautification project at the Main Street municipal complex. Council voted unanimously to accept Keystone’s contract, so work on the project can begin as soon as possible.

The project aims to create better access between Main Street and the entrance to the Delaware & Lehigh Trail behind the municipal complex.

When completed, the 165-mile trail will stretch from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. So far, 135 miles are complete, but they are not all continuous.

One of the several gaps in the trail is in Catasauqua and North Catasauqua boroughs, and the cost to close that gap is $1.3 million.

Fortunately, council President Peter Paone announced the borough will be awarded a $500,000 Livable Landscapes grant to contribute to that goal. Paone thanked Sherry Acevedo, conservation coordinator of Northampton County, for her help in securing the grant.

Fire Chief Shawn McGinley announced the fire department is being awarded a $10,000 radio grant from Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which will be used to purchase new radio equipment.

He also announced the department is organizing a takeout chicken barbecue dinner, which is scheduled for Sept. 1. Further details are to be announced.

Borough council will hold a special meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 3. The meeting will serve as a public forum, so residents can address council about the new ordinances for certificate of occupancy and residential rentals, which will introduce many new regulations for renters and landlords in the borough.

This forum meeting will be in place of council’s first regular meeting for the month of August, which will be held 7 p.m. Aug. 17 instead.