Alburtis Mayor Kathleen Palmer opened the July 9 meeting at Alburtis Borough Hall with concerns about the communications of fireworks being set off throughout the borough.

Palmer explained residents will post on social media but they do not understand the police officer is not on social media to see those posts. She said residents need to call when it is happening and be willing to serve as a witness in court; otherwise, it will be very difficult to process the complaint. The officer cannot write the report if he did not see the action. She reminded residents “social media can be fabricated.”

Council member John Aleszczyk asked about abandoned vehicles in the borough. Chief of Police Tony Alsleben said as long as a car is parked legally, it can stay in that location. However, it was noted if the car has issues with registration, or is on a street which states “no parking” or “snow emergency,” then citations can be issued and the car can be towed.

Reinstating the 72 hour parking limit was also discussed. Aleszczyk asked for the parking ordinance to be updated.

Council member Mahmet Birket pointed out “we have a parking problem.” He is concerned about the limited parking in developments and wants to see specific parking lots designated for overflow parking to avoid having residents parking half in the driveways and half on the sidewalks or with wheels hanging off the curbs.

Macungie Ambulance reported they responded to 400 calls in June with seven of those calls in the borough.

Council Vice President Steven Hill reported the sewer account looked low and Borough Manager Steve Nemeth reported reimbursements from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development are waiting to be released.

A request was made for Solicitor Dave Knerr to create an ordinance to adopt the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and International Fire Code.

Requests were made for engineering assistance with the multimodal grant application, the TA Set-aside Grant Program and grants for the backhoe and police car.

Resolution 2025-04 was passed “authorizing the borough manager to execute all documents and agreements between the Borough of Alburtis and PA Commonwealth Financing Authority to facilitate and assist in obtaining the requested multimodal transportation fund grant.” A notice of reception of 2023 Municipal Recycling Grant for $2,415.48 was made.

With no public comments made from residents, Council President Ron DeIaco discussed concerns about the minutes. “The minutes are a general knowledge of what was talked about, (not word for word),” DeIaco said. Palmer said if a formal transcript of the minutes is needed, then a court certified reporter would need to be hired to certify the minutes at additional cost.

In the mayor’s report at the July 30 meeting, Palmer shared a concern that when trees fell down during the July 25 storm, drivers were not heeding the police lights near the downed trees. Palmer complimented the police and maintenance department for doing a “fantastic job” having the roads opened within one hour. The tree that fell in the Alburtis Community Pool was cleaned up quickly.

Palmer also appealed to council to have the crosswalk signs replaced around the bend because they are faded. She also noted cars coming from Topton are not stopping or slowing down in the alley near her house. She encouraged council to make this section one-way to avoid head-on collisions that could occur. Knerr said the borough can institute a one-way restriction. DeIaco asked that Alsleben be a part of this discussion regarding the enforcement of the one-way area.

A resident inquired about a trailer parked on Third Street and issues with line of sight. He was concerned for children making their way to the elementary school. It was also noted the fire trucks have also had a concern about the parking of this trailer impacting the trucks being able to get in and out of the station. Alsleben will look into this to see if the trailer is in violation of line of sight and issue necessary citations. Vehicle code states vehicles cannot be parked within 20 feet of a crosswalk. Painting the line of sight was suggested as well as keeping vehicles away from corners for pedestrian safety.

In new business, Lower Macungie Township Assistant Fire Chief Robert George appealed to council to adopt the fire code to make safety a priority for everyone. He recommended mirroring the standard across the municipalities. He said, “The codes change with technology, and we need to update the fire codes” to reflect these changes.

George also suggested “knock boxes” be required of all businesses in the borough. A knock box is a safe on the side of the business or building. A code for the box is logged and the fire department knows when the key is taken out and who opens the box.

This gives the fire department access to the building without having to cause damage to the building. George noted not all businesses have these and he would like to see an ordinance that requires it of all businesses. He also shared the department checks for updated keys.

Knerr said this requirement can be placed in the property maintenance code. George said this ordinance will mirror Lower Macungie Township’s ordinance for new commercial construction and new ownerships of businesses or buildings. Businesses not “grandfathered in” will be given time to update with these boxes.

George also asked for a burning ordinance regarding issues with open burning in the borough. He wants to see commercially bought containers, permits for burning and specific footage away from structures for burning.

Issues in the borough are typically neighbor disputes regarding the burning of furniture and trash within 10 feet of a house. The borough currently has no ordinance for burning.

Knerr noted there have been numerous discussions on this topic but there have been no adoptions. George would like to use Lower Macungie Township’s guidelines for the borough ordinance. Pavers, the zoning ordinance and bonfires were also included in the discussion.

Also approved were Resolutions 2025-5, 2025-6 and 2025-7 authorizing the borough manager to execute all documents and agreements for local share assessment grants and a multimodal transportation fund grant.

An approval was made to advertise for the maintenance position as well as the civil service certified eligibility list that includes two persons.

The Alburtis Police Department’s National Night Out will take place 6-8 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Alburtis Community Pool. Numerous safety organizations will be present including EMS and the state police, “Big Fluffy” and bounce houses. Hot dogs will be available.

Palmer is collecting cans of soup for the food pantry throughout the months of September and October. Donations can be made at borough hall.

Via Zoom, Birket appealed to residents to reach out to their congress representatives regarding children in Gaza. He said “our senators are turning a blind eye to this. Children are starving. Israel’s blockade. We are complicit as a country. This is (about) human rights. People in Alburtis have family there.” DeIaco agreed, “You are right. Children should not be starving. I agree 100% and everyone here agrees.”

DeIaco said a sealer is to be used in the manholes that are three layers to prevent the overflow of water into the sewers. He said that grant money will be used for this sealer that coats the inside of the manhole but allows for no infiltration.

Vice President Steven Hill added the borough has old manholes allowing for lots of water getting into the system. The Lehigh County Authority charges for flow. “Less water into the system, the less we have to pay for at the meter system,” DeIaco said. The sealing is guaranteed for at least 10 years, possibly 20 years.

An executive session regarding a personnel issue followed this meeting.

An executive session also began before the July 30 meeting.

Borough Council meetings are held the second and last Wednesdays of the month. The next meeting will take place 7 p.m. Aug. 13 in Alburtis Borough Hall.