Council received a report from the borough engineer detailing updates on capital projects and relevant costs at the Oct. 19 Macungie Borough Council meeting.

Ryan Kern, representing Barry Isett & Associates, was on hand to make the report and answer questions from council members and public.

According to Kern, Cotton Street is now virtually complete in the design phase and an adequacy letter has been received by Barry Isett. The design is under technical review for 90 days which carries the project into January 2016. A work order was placed with Pennsylvania Power & Light for the relocation of guy-wires for the project. Some uncertainty remains about whether two poles or one will be necessary to relocate but Kern says PPL has quoted the cost at something like $1,000.

With regard to the budget for the Cotton Street project, Kern reported in the 13 months since the last project quote from Barry Isett, the cost has significantly decreased. Last year was estimated high, Kern said, and based on a request from council this year the design fee has been reduced by $20,000. Previously the project was estimated at $592,000 with design, engineering and construction. Kern now estimates the cost at $485,000, including curb and sidewalk work.

Of the design fee so far, $59,600 has been invoiced to the borough and $5,960 remains to be billed. Kern says $40,000 should cover inspections over a period of up to 10 weeks, with that being a flexible number. For construction $386,136.11 is estimated based on construction bids, reduced $55,000 from last year’s estimate.

Kern’s update on the Church Street traffic signal indicated less progress, as the project is still tied up at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The signal was approved in June and a permit issued, but is now delayed in “bureaucratic issues,” Kern said. This is due to the PennDOT’s wish for the project to be included and bid together with the Main Street streetscape project and handicap ramps at the railroad crossing.

Construction costs for the traffic light were estimated last fall at $262,000, now refined, Kern said, to $202,000. Future expenditures for the borough amount to $162,000. The borough has already been billed for part of the project.

Kern also estimated a cost of $17,000 to review the southeastern quadrant of the borough (the Fairview Street area) for stormwater sewers and $22,000 to review the whole borough for the same. A study of that nature would take between two and three weeks to complete, Kern said, and would be completed with assessment levels and recommendations from engineering of what can be done to improve stormwater drainage.

In other business, council approved a contractual increase in the borough refuse collection fee, up from $58.50 to $61.87 per quarter. This is the last year of the borough’s five-year contract.

The borough engaged with Long, Barrell & Co. for the 2015 audit of the borough and the real estate tax collector.

Borough Manager Chris Boehm reviewed quotes from energy companies and the borough’s elevator service and was given the green light from council to proceed at her own discretion. Boehm’s recommendation was to continue with WGL, the current provider, for a 36-month contract. Boehm also recommended carrying forward with Otis for the borough’s elevator services, including a pressure test, offered gratis at a $980 savings to the borough.

Several borough residents appeared before council to make their feelings known regarding the recent fire on Hillcrest Drive South. First among them was Patricia Stasko, a resident of Hillcrest, who referred to the fire as “a catastrophe” and “a shoddy example of our fire department.” Stasko described a chaotic scene surrounding the fire and expressed indignation at the lack of control and organization exhibited by the Macungie police and the fire department.

Stasko said when she arrived at the fire she was able to walk freely throughout the area uninhibited by police and the array of police department cars did not allow for fire trucks to get close enough. Stasko repeatedly stated to council she felt unsafe.

“I wouldn’t look to those people anymore for security in this borough,” she said.

Becker acknowledged there were other issues surrounding the events of the fire as well, and while the matter was being looked into, as of yet no cause of the blaze had yet been determined.

Becker also pointed out there was some confusion between trucks of where to go and which trucks would block off which roads, explaining why Stasko and others had seen trucks driving in multiple directions.

Tom Kociuba, of Fairview Street, said he did not feel secure in the borough after the fire and an investigation should be initiated. Becker responded the county is responsible for the investigation which has been done, but there are conflicting stories about what transpired.

Dorothy Kociuba expressed her faith in the council’s promise to investigate the matter further and suggested the incident should be viewed as a lesson learned for future emergencies. Kociuba asked council to look into the roster of the fire department and the training of each firefighter, which Becker said had already been done. As of several weeks ago council was given a complete report of each firefighter’s qualifications. The information is available to the public and again Kociuba responded she had faith in the council and their responsibility to the borough.

Mayor Gary Cordner issued a reminder the Halloween parade will take place 7 p.m. Oct. 24. Trick-or-Treat night 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.