During the June 16 North Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, council members heard from residents regarding a petition to open Ridge Street. It is currently a “paper alley,” and residents want the borough to pave the road.

Solicitor Attorney Stephanie Steward and council President Peter Paone will be looking into this matter and what paving it would entail. Council told the residents it wouldn’t happen this year, as the process can be detailed and long. This topic will be discussed at the next meeting.

In other news, the borough announced it hired two part-time employees for the office. Ashley Rolles will work two days per week through early July, then will work approximately five weeks at 30 hours. Olivia Emery will work around 25 hours a week.

A proposal for $2,180 from Colonial Cleaning for waxing and buffing the basement floors in the municipal building was approved.

Council reappointed Kevin Armbruster and Adam Raker to the building code appeals board, with terms ending June 16, 2027.

Also at the meeting, borough Secretary Tasha Jandrisovits said a zoning hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. June 30 for a special exception for accessory parking at 1250 Seventh St.

In addition, at a recent zoning hearing board meeting, Daku’s Auto Body was approved to put in a car calibration facility by removing the old building, garage and greenhouse and putting up the new structure.

Borough Treasurer Tricia Tillman said 24 water shut-off notices were sent out, and a shut-off date of June 26 was announced if these residents do not pay their bill by June 25.

Tillman, after the meeting, said, “We send out the first invoice, and then I send out a second notice saying that if they’re past due, this is the third and final notice. [...] They have until June 25 to pay. If they don’t pay [by this date], then it will be shut off.”

In the police department report, Chief Christopher Wolfer said a handicap parking application was received for 1006 Fifth St. Council approved this request.

Wolfer also talked about the recent Community Day event and its success.

“There was a really good turnout,” Tillman said after the meeting. “It seemed to go well.”

In her solicitor’s report, Steward discussed the update to the trash ordinance. Council is seeking to have a time limit on how long residents can have their trash bins out front on the sidewalk. Residents should put their bins out the night before pickup and then retrieve them within 24 hours after pickup. Notices and fees will apply for offenses.

Paone, in his report, mentioned the 2025 trash bid. The borough’s current hauler is J.P. Mascaro and Sons. Council is hoping to receive more bids to see which contract will benefit the borough the most.

“If it stays with J.P. Mascaro, if they come back with the only bid or the best option for us, then we’ll stick with them, but if another [company] bids and it seems like they’re going to be better cost effective for the borough, then we would go with them,” Tillman said after the meeting.

Council has set a bid deadline of Aug. 15 for companies, and members will open the bids at the Aug. 18 meeting. Council hopes to make a final decision by the September meeting.

The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. July 21 at the municipal building, 1066 Fourth St.