The Nov. 9 meeting of Alburtis Borough Council began with a presentation from the Lower Macungie Library. Representatives from the library spoke about the plan to expand the library. The expansion would be used for a new children’s wing.

Library representatives said the new children’s wing of the library is being constructed because there is currently not enough room to serve everyone who wants to take part in library events causing people to be turned away. The current children’s area of the library will become office space and large group meeting space. A portion of the money for the addition came from a government grant.

Representatives of the library discussed the proposed budget for 2017. The budget included a 12.5 percent increase in fundraising from a pair of additional bus trips and a pair of additional events at the library. The library will also start accepting online donations in the last quarter of 2016. The only major increase in expenses for the library in 2017 will be marketing and fundraising which increased 83 percent from last year. According to a survey done by the library in 2015, the library has to market itself better, especially the services provided.

A report from the library showed the Alburtis circulation so far in this year is 9,704. There have been 96 new Alburtis patrons at the library to date in 2016 bringing the library’s total Alburtis patrons to 1,317.

Council members then discussed a quote given for a new generator. Council had been discussing purchasing a new generator for Alburtis borough hall. The original price for the project was $50,000, but the council was able to negotiate the final price to $22,200.

The generator in question would be a Generac brand and would be provided by Modern Group Power Systems. The purchase would include the generator itself along with an automatic transfer switch. Two hours of load back testing and two hours of testing are also required. The automatic transfer switch will take six to eight weeks and the generator will take nine weeks to be delivered not including delivery time. Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the new generator.

In other business, council discussed the renewal of the annual contract with The Sanctuary at Haafsville. The sanctuary accepts stray dogs and stray friendly cats from the public and the police between 9 a.m and 7 p.m. The fee for Haafsville’s services will be $110 per stray dog, $50 per friendly stray cat and $50 for each trap neuter and release of a feral cat. There will be a cap of $400 for services to Alburtis.

The final item discussed was the zoning hearing board’s decision on an application from residents at 314 Front St.

The hearing board granted the applicant’s request for an in-law apartment with the following conditions. The first added a covenant preventing the use of the in-law apartment as a second residential unit. Second, when the in-law apartment is no longer being occupied by a qualified individual, the property will be converted back into a single family home. Also, the in-law apartment will not be sealed internally from the existing home. In addition, both the units will be on single utility services and the in-law apartment will not be rented. Finally, the occupant of the in-law apartment has to be related by blood, adoption or marriage to the occupants of the main structure on the property.

Alburtis Borough Council meets 7 p.m. the second and last Wednesdays of each month in Alburtis Borough Hall. The next meeting will be held Nov. 30.