Members of the Macungie Borough Council met at the Macungie Institute Oct. 1 for its regular meeting.

The ongoing rental inspection ordinance was approved for advertising. This ordinance includes a checklist of items to be verified which will be beneficial to neighbors and the borough eliminating overgrown weeds, poorly constructed buildings and other areas of concern to neighbors. This ordinance eliminates the need for code enforcement which was suggested can be invasive. A public meeting is scheduled Nov. 5 for citizen input to the ordinance.

As suggested at the Sept. 17 meeting, the name of the person doing the inspections will be changed from “observer” to “inspector.”

Council is considering a job description for the inspector. Previously, council discussed some of the qualifications/skills the inspector should have. Borough Manager Chris Boehm asked Zoning Officer Kenneth Nicholson to revise the job description for the inspector following the Sept. 17 meeting.

In other business, the Southwestern Lehigh County Plan Implementation agreement was approved by council.

Resolution 2018-19 was approved increasing the refuse rate from $46.08 a quarter to $47.09 a quarter. This increase is per the 5-year contract with Advanced Disposal.

Boehm told council she is working on a safety manual. It was suggested Boehm produce an amendment rather than producing a total revision.

It was announced the Macungie Fire Department is up-to-date on its certificates for July and August.

Mayor Ronald Conrad continues to investigate the problem of mail not being delivered to mailboxes along Village Walk Drive in the Brookfield Townhouse Development. The issue is with vehicles parked in front of, or too close to, the mailboxes. Conrad is continuing to work with the U.S. Postmaster on the issue.

At a recent council meeting, Conrad suggested a discussion on other options for having the mail delivered in the development. Conrad had suggested relocating the mailboxes to another area in the development or expanding the “no parking area” in front of the current mailboxes and painting the curb yellow. It was reported Oct. 1 vehicles have not been parked in front of the mailboxes in the last week.

Council member John Yerman suggested installing a large multi-unit box at another location where vehicles cannot park. Conrad was going to follow up with the post office on installing a multi-unit box.

Conrad also asked council where they would like to install a reserved parking sign for a Purple Heart recipient. The sign was donated by the Wounded Warriors.

A draft ordinance was approved and will be advertised regarding parking restrictions on Village Walk Drive.

The ordinance states, “Borough Council, after a public hearing, duly advertised, has concluded that it is in the best interest of the borough to restrict parking along Village Walk Drive to passenger cars and light trucks only.”

The ordinance applies to both sides of Village Walk Drive for the entire length, at all times and every day. No medium or heavy trucks and/or truck tractors or trailers will be permitted.

This ordinance will also be reviewed for public comment at the Nov. 5 meeting.

The next meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Macungie Institute, 510 E. Main St., Macungie.