Among regular business Macungie Borough Council approved new bylaws for the Macungie Farmers Market during the meeting Feb. 2.

The bylaws dictate the formation of an advisory board consisting of four market vendors, the market manager, a member of council and a volunteer from the market. Council member Roseann Schleicher was appointed as the representative for council.

After being presented with a proposal from the Kalmbach Trust at the last meeting, borough council members decided to turn down the park's offer of $20,000 and a tract of land on Cotton Street, instead choosing to follow through with the original plan for the sidewalk.

The park's donation would have gone toward funding the inclusion of a pedestrian bridge in the new plans for the street, but council decided this would only cause further delays to a project of pressing need.

Instead, the borough will construct the pedestrian sidewalk with an easement granted from the park, as originally agreed. The park will be responsible for maintaining the sidewalks, which would have been avoided had the donation been accepted.

Borough Manager Chris Boehm reported the bridge would have had to be a separate project anyway because of permits necessary through the Department of Environmental Protection. The project would entail more engineering design costs and a review from the DEP, holding up the street work.

When council is ready to move forward and address the bridge, it will, Boehm said; she cited also the bridge on Lehigh Street which was not completed at the same time as the street. In the meantime, bids for construction on Cotton Street will move forward slated for this year.

Cotton Street had been on hold until the meeting but Boehm reported the solicitor will start drawing up the necessary paperwork for the easements.

In addition, council will be reviewing designs for the traffic signal at Church and Main streets. The designs are to be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in anticipation of the work on Cotton Street which will direct an increase in traffic to Church Street. At the time of construction, Cotton Street will be closed for both traveling lanes, except to local traffic.

Mayor Gary Cordner met with the railroad company Norfolk Southern, the Macungie chief of police and PennDOT to discuss the recent fatal accident at the railroad crossing on Main Street and any ways safety and visibility can be improved at the intersection. Better lighting, reflective lines across the track and a stop bar were proposed.

Further meetings are planned with Pennsylvania Power and Light. Boehm said. While it was not the first accident of its kind for the crossing, it is the first in a long time, though she could not state when the last accident occurred. Norfolk Southern is looking into signage and reflectors for the area.

On Feb. 4, a meeting was planned with Council President Chris Becker, Vice President Greg Hutchison and two members of the planning commission, along with Lower Macungie Township to discuss concerns about the planned 214-unit Grand View development just over Macungie's border. The development will cause issues for travel along Route 100, as well as a heavier burden on the borough's police department. In instances where state police are not available or local authorities can arrive more quickly, Macungie and Alburtis will both be under strain to tend to the safety and law enforcement needs of the new development. Becker is looking for reimbursement for police funds and traffic impact.

Necessary improvements for Route 100 include a left-hand turning lane at West End Trail and Main Street southbound as well as a traffic light at Chestnut Street which would reportedly cost $30,000.

The next borough council meeting will be held Feb. 17.