The April 19 Hellertown Council virtual meeting featured progress on multiple borough infrastructure projects, including road paving, the search for a bidder on the previously-approved new public works facility, improvements to borough parks and more.

Borough engineer Bryan Smith of Barry Isett and Associates joined the meeting to provide an update on the new public works facility proposed for the former Reinhard School site on Northampton Street. No bids were received by the due date, he said, and his suggestion was to advertise the project through COSTARS, which is a cooperative purchasing program offered through the state of Pennsylvania which acts as a conduit matching those seeking services with providers. Council unanimously approved Smith’s proposal.

Road paving, much of it to take place in the borough’s Mountainview neighborhood, was also on the docket, as borough manager Cathy Hartranft announced that multiple bids had been received for the project. Her suggestion was to choose the lowest bid of $241,451.68 from GoreCon Inc. of Chalfont in Bucks County, which was even lower than the borough’s initial estimates, she noted. Council unanimously approved the bid.

Council also voted to apply for a Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program funding grant of $40,000 from the commonwealth. Financing Authority for the Hellertown Greenway Corridor Study and Master Site Plan. The grant requires a commitment from the borough to match the funds, which Hartranft said would be met with grant funds from other sources. There was no opposition from council to the application.

Similarly, Hartranft proposed applying for a funding grant of $250,000 from the same program for much-discussed improvements at Dimmick Park, including a new basketball court, off-street parking, an interior park path and greening of a stormwater channel. Council unanimously approved this proposal as well.

Hartranft also provided a generally positive quarterly review on the borough’s finances thus far. “Things are looking really good,” she said. “There are a few items that we need to keep an eye on, on the expenditures side,” she added, such as overtime pay for public works employees due to the early February snowstorm which brought a widespread two feet plus to the entire coverage area.

In other news, Lauren Sufleta from the borough authority joined the meeting to provide an update on a few items of interest. Offices will be reopening to the public May 4, she said. Hydrant flushing has begun throughout the borough and she urged residents to keep an eye out for brown water over the next two weeks. She also reminded council that Reservoir Park is available for rental by the community for outdoor picnics and other activities.