Harry Garman presented the sewer rehabilitation plan for the borough to reduce sanitary sewer overflow to EPA regulations and update the aging sections of Macungie’s sanitary sewer at the Aug. 15 borough council meeting.

The aging portions have started to allow groundwater to leak into the system, causing occasional overflows in certain areas when it storms. The plan entails 3.7 miles (19,794 feet) of total work with six-tenths of a mile being scheduled for this year. The plan is scheduled to be done by 2025 and would replace or recondition the needed 289 manholes, 600 laterals and 100 new chimney seals at a proposed total cost to the borough of $19.5 million. The plan was tabled pending information from ARCADIS.

Life Scout Connor Lysek requested a waiver from borough code section 141-2, which would allow for the construction of his proposed Eagle Scout project.

The project, to be constructed at the Macungie VFW, would provide a proper flag disposal burn pad.

Solicitor Pat Armstrong recommended changing the ordinance to allow for burns in this situation as a ceremonial burn, but also noted because waivers are granted only for specific events, the granting of a waiver at this time was impossible. The borough did adopt a alternative solution to conditionally grant anticipatory waivers and waive the zoning fee for his project, motioned by Roseann Schleicher and seconded by Alma Akinjiola.

The State Public Employee Retirement Assessment Commission reported the determination state employee retirement is not distressed.

There was no zoning or ambulance news.

The Lower Lehigh Lions Club asked for a lengthening of the no-parking area requested for their two mile Fun Run, a fundraiser for the many local events the Lions Club organizes and sponsors. The proposed no parking zone for the Halloween Parade would be 5 to 7:15 p.m. from the north to the south ends of Buttonwood Street, between Main Street and Hickory. The change was accepted by a motion from John Yerman and seconded by Schleicher.

The Per Capita Tax Ordinance amendment of 31448.1 was presented by the solicitor designed to allow for the exemption of “stationed, active members.” The original copy of this draft did not include those “activated to full-time duty as a reservist” and council asked the solicitor rewrite the amendment to include that text. The solicitor will present the redraft at the next meeting.

Mayor Gary Cordner reported he was still awaiting for an answer from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on the issue of the use of retarder brakes on Main Street. Cordner said the municipality can’t do much as the grade is too steep to override state regulation allowing their use.

No update was available on the status of the police vehicles, or the speed and truck enforcement on Church Street, but the area is still being monitored.

Borough Manager Chris Boehm reported the 2016 Cured in Case Pipe Lining bid was awaiting further confirmation from their low bid to check if the company had the capacity to fulfill the bid and is scheduled to be presented at the Sept. 19 meeting.

The Main Street Streetscape Plan received an update from Norfolk Southern, specifying flaggers with specific training are needed on rail systems for work in the vicinity of the railroad for moving equipment at cost of $11,000. Cotton Street is temporally one way, and is now marked “do not enter” on its western end effective when opened. Yerman motioned the matter be solidified by permanent ordinance and was seconded by Schleicher.

New business at the meeting consisted of seven items. The request for traffic control services from the Macungie Fire Police Oct. 6 and 7 was motioned by Schleicher and seconded by Akinjiola. Resolution 2016-16, pertaining to the disposition of municipal records was accepted by motion from Akinjiola and seconded by Schleicher and approved with four ayes.

The borough regretfully accepted the resignation of Laurie Dudash from the Macungie Police Department. The police department received a quote for insulation of its station needed to reduce heating costs which was accepted.

Resolution 2016-17, the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program grant provides $500,000 to the borough’s program, was accepted with a vote of four ayes. The sewer rehabilitation project financing has the possibility of being a 15- year loan, where sewer rates would roughly double, or an 8-year loan where rates would more than double for residents. The item was tabled pending further research by council and the solicitor to ensure they get the best rate.

Bohem announced the Sept. 6 meeting was canceled and the next meeting was scheduled 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19.