At the Nov. 1 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, council accepted the resignation of Councilman Brian McKittrick. A longtime councilman, he plans to relocate out of the area, making him ineligible to remain on council.

Councilman Cameron Smith applauded McKittrick’s long history of community service and successful actions as a councilman and noted McKittrick’s father was also active in Catasauqua community affairs.

Council is expected to appoint a replacement for McKittrick at its Nov. 29 meeting. Interested residents need to send a letter of application for council to the borough office by Nov. 19.

In other business, a resident approached council about the increase of FedEx Ground trucks in the borough. Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish pointed out the FedEx Ground trucks are not prohibited from Second Street. The resident complained of a near accident involving a truck on the night of the borough’s Halloween parade.

Borough Manager Stephen Travers noted he calls the FedEx Ground facility perhaps three times a week to voice complaints about trucks in the borough. Also, Travers sits on a multimunicipal truck task force that monitors FedEx Ground travel through local municipalities. The task force meets periodically.

As council met Nov. 1, on the eve of Election Day, the meeting was tinged with political talk.

In the hearing of persons present, a Catasauqua mayoral write-in candidate suggested another mayoral candidate was not eligible to be on the ballot due to residency issues. She spent a period of time quizzing borough Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker about the voting eligibility regulations.

Dinkelacker was unable to provide a definitive answer because of the complex eligibility rules. Candidate eligibility disputes are reviewed by the county district attorney and can end up before a county judge to determine eligibility, asserted Dinkelacker.

After the meeting, the mayoral write-in candidate noted voters had informed her of the potential residency challenges of a mayoral candidate elected in the May primary election.

This information prompted her to contact Lehigh County Voter Registration for candidate eligibility requirements. Voter registration was not able to provide a definitive eligibility answer, she said.

In other news, Mayor Barbara Schlegel said the borough’s tree-lighting ceremony is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5. The event will include a visit from Santa Claus, crafts, vendors and the bell choir from Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church.

Engineer Vanessa Nedrick updated council on projects. Road paving was expected to begin Nov. 4. The asbestos abatement at the Iron Works project is proceeding, and plans to renovate the George Taylor House will need financial assistance, perhaps in the form of grants to accomplish the renovation plans.

Smith, chair of the general government committee, said work on the development of a business registry is moving forward.

The public safety committee will meet 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the municipal complex.

Three junior council members from Catasauqua High School all expressed gratitude for the numerous volunteer opportunities afforded them during the last month. They also said the success of the CHS football team has generated much excitement and school pride at the high school.

The next council meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 29. It is a hybrid meeting, both in person at the borough complex, 90 Bridge St., and virtual. Visit catasauqua.org for the access numbers for the virtual workshop meeting.