North Catasauqua Borough Council provided an official statement regarding the property at 1492 Main St., also known as Brother’s Pizza. The statement was provided by fire Chief Roger Scheirer and read by borough Secretary Tasha Jandrisovits, due to the chief’s absence.

The statement intended to provide clarification over the recently condemned building on Main Street, as there has been a communication stir online. Jandrisovits explained the property was condemned due to a serious electrical safety issue. The borough has communicated with the property manager and owner and has connected them with Keycodes Inspection Agency to discuss the next steps regarding reoccupying the property.

There has not been an established timeline for repairs at this time. Moving forward, “the owner is responsible” for taking the next steps on this project, according to Jandrisovits.

In other business, Councilwoman Michele Hazzard discussed a new summer program proposal during the recreation committee report. She explained Greater Valley YMCA approached her with a proposal to take over the North Catasauqua summer park program. The proposal has sparked interest, as the recreation committee was not able to host the park program last summer due to lack of staff.

In this offer, employees would be provided by the YMCA with required licenses and clearances. The program would run for two and a half hours, and children will qualify for a free lunch, provided by Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 604 Fourth St., Catasauqua.

North Catasauqua Borough would be responsible for paying the YMCA for the program budget, and then the YMCA would plan and run everything, including bringing the supplies. The program would be offered to only North Catasauqua residents at first, and if the program does not fill up, seats will also be offered to Catasauqua residents.

Hazzard also said the Wiffle ball program in the afternoon will be back this summer and will be run by herself and another member. The recreation committee will pay wages for these positions. More information on both programs is to come.

President Peter Paone provided an update to council concerning the borough building roof repairs. He received a proposal from Keystone Consulting that offers a three-phased project.

Phase one includes a field survey and plan layout, meeting and consulting with the borough, finalizing the roof bid and preparing bid documents, final review meeting and similar preparation and meeting matters. This phase will cost a bulk of the roof repair, with a set value of $18,500.

Phase two places the bid on the official bidding website, prepares any required addendum and pre-bid meetings and meets with the successful bidder, at a value of around $3,800.

Phase three has a Keystone member monitoring work performed on the roof, ensuring the completion of the project and that it remains on task and other related administrative tasks. This phase is valued at around $7,800.

Paone had a few concerns about this matter, the first being the borough will choose the lowest bidder, but as work is performed on the roof, the cost will rise as more repairs are revealed. Furthermore, due to the point in the year, he believes construction would not begin until the summertime, leaving only a short time frame until winter approaches and construction stops for the season.

With these concerns in mind, Paone suggested the borough only move forward with phase one at this time. Council agreed with his narrative, and a motion was raised to authorize Keystone Consulting to proceed with phase one of the borough building roof repair project for $18,500. The motion was approved, and the borough will begin moving forward with the roof evaluation. More information is to come.

North Catasauqua Police Department Sgt. Antonio Tramonte attended the council meeting on behalf of police Chief Chris Wolfer. Tramonte read the chief’s report, while he attended remotely.

It was mentioned February is the first month since Wolfer began keeping track of statistics where the department has had the lowest crime rate in five years (from the previous February numbers). There were 107 calls for service for February 2024. In 2023, it was 266; in 2022, 311; and in 2021, 228.

Wolfer also formally thanked state Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th, for his “ongoing support of the law enforcement community.” It was announced March 12 the borough was awarded $15,000 for law enforcement recruitment.

The chief also extended appreciation to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. This organization is responsible for the funding for the grant. He said PCCD has been an “invaluable asset” to the police department over the last five years.

Council will next meet 7 p.m. April 1 at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St. There is also an option to attend remotely, and the link can be found on the borough’s website under the news tab.