During the Catasauqua Borough Council meeting held May 19, Mayor Barbara Schlegel recognized the Catasauqua High School boys basketball team for winning the District XI 3A championship. A number of the players, coaches and managers attended the meeting and received certificates from the mayor.

In other business, council was approached by two independent filmmakers, Justin and Alex of Justin J. Productions, who were interested in filming some scenes at the Iron Works site. They said they are filming a zombie apocalypse scene and, after scouting several locations in the area, believed the Iron Works property to be ideal. Council is considering the request and will get back to the filmmakers. They are hoping to film the scenes in late July or August.

Later in the meeting, it was reported the agreement of sale for the Iron Works property has been fully executed and purchase orders are being placed for materials to ensure the borough can utilize the grant funds that are set to expire June 30. It was noted the borough is expecting 10,000 tons of stone, spanning 468 truckloads, to be delivered to the site for the under layer.

Catasauqua Fire Chief Richard Hertzog Jr. shared some thoughts on the burn ban being lifted in the borough. He noted they are already responding to calls about people not burning legally in the borough. He said for safety and to help from overtaxing the volunteer department, they need to be more serious about enforcing the rules and consequences of violations.

Hertzog noted the first time they respond to a burning violation, the resident will receive a warning. A second call should result in a fine. However, the fire department personnel cannot issue a citation, so they must have a police officer respond to the scene as well to write the citation.

Hertzog also mentioned most residences in the borough do not have legal clearances for open fires, due to the strictures of the ordinance. Residents should familiarize themselves with the ordinance before burning.

There was discussion about the owner of the scrapyard on Race Street wanting to take down a structure on the property. There are reportedly some homeless people living in the building, but the conditions are allegedly unsafe and unsanitary. It was reported he should contact the police department for the proper protocol to take down the building safely and allow time for the people living there to gather their belongings.

A resident shared her concerns about the plan to change Second Street to two-way traffic. It was noted the plan was approved by a former council, and the current council shares her concerns but cannot stop the changes. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation project is out of their hands, they said.

Another resident addressed council about problems he has been having with garbage pickup. He noted J.P. Mascaro and Sons workers are damaging bins and losing lids. He was advised to take videos or photos and share them with the borough. It was noted this is an ongoing issue and the borough is documenting problems and regularly calling the company.

There was concern shared about truck traffic in the borough. Council members said they would resume the effort to find solutions to keep tractor-trailers and large trucks off the roads they are not supposed to be on.

Two ordinances were approved by council. Ordinance 1444 details the administrative and supervisory duties of the police chief. It was noted this provides more specific details than the previous official job description, and the new duties align with the contract of the new police chief.

Ordinance 1445 removes three handicapped parking spaces in the borough — in the 200 block of Church Street, the 100 block of Howertown Road and the 500 block of Walnut Street.

The engineer’s report included a request for a payment certificate of $45,600 for the wastewater treatment plant influent pump project and a $9,110.06 change order for the wastewater treatment plant electrical upgrades project. Engineer Vanessa Nedrick reported the influent pump project is funded through a Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Grant.

Nedrick also reported the Walnut Street paving project will start shortly, and they are reviewing plans for the Bridge Street streetscape project. Additionally, Nedrick noted she met with PennDOT about the Race Street parking lot project. The conversation reportedly went well, and she said the PennDOT permit manager will expedite the review of the case to hopefully allow the borough to open the lot sooner than planned.

The resignation of Councilman Eugene Schlegel from the borough’s shade tree commission was approved. His efforts to remove invasive trees, plant memorial trees and more was lauded by members of council.

“Gene has done a phenomenal job,” Councilwoman Virginia Schlegel said. “He has been instrumental in making this town beautiful.”

A new chair for the commission is needed to continue this work in the borough.

Barbara Schlegel reported the Catasauqua chair on the Catasauqua/North Catasauqua J4 Committee is resigning. If interested in joining the committee, it will meet 7 p.m. June 17 at the North Catasauqua Municipal Building, 1066 Fourth St.

It was noted there are vacancies on the code board of appeals and the borough authority.

Borough council will next meet 6 p.m. June 2 for the committee and workshop meetings and 7 p.m. June 16 for the regular business meeting. Meetings are held at the borough municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.