North Catasauqua Borough Council President Peter Paone gave updates on a number of construction projects during the Dec. 6 council meeting.

Umbriac Trucking, the contractor responsible for the trailhead access road project behind the borough’s Main Street public works complex, has resumed work and completed paving of the road itself.

Paone clarified there is still work to be done and the entire project is not yet finished.

Ground has been broken on the borough’s storm sewer project, a long-awaited effort to address stormwater runoff issues in the neighborhoods around Main Street. Paone said crews will be working 10 hours per day, four days per week on the project, which is expected to be completed in August 2022.

Industrial archaeologists from Hunter Research made their first visit to North Catasauqua to assess the flood damage done to the remains of a Lehigh Canal feeder gate, which sits between the Lehigh River and the North Catasauqua section of the D&L Trail.

The stone wall that sits atop the feeder gate was badly damaged during heavy flooding this fall, so borough officials wanted a professional opinion on the value of preserving the structure - and the cost to do so. Hunter Research has yet to make its recommendation or give any cost estimate.

A resolution was passed at the request of borough Treasurer Annette Englert to eliminate employee contributions to the police pension fund.

Council also passed motions to approve the 2022 proposed general fund budget in the amount of $2,226,017 and a rate of 13.7 mills as well as the 2022 sewer fund budget in the amount of $755,000.

Police Chief Chris Wolfer informed council of the resignations of three North Catasauqua officers, Richard Garner, Paul D’Onofrio and Mike Brenner. Wolfer said the resignations were expected, and all three officers have returned their gear to the department.

During the meeting, borough council scheduled its 2022 reorganization meeting for 6 p.m. Jan. 3, immediately followed by the first regular borough council meeting of the new year 7 p.m. that evening.

Council also decided to tentatively postpone the next meeting, which was scheduled for Dec. 20. Paone said the meeting will be officially canceled if no new business comes up before then.

As potentially the last borough council meeting of 2021 drew to a close, Paone took a moment to thank council members Joseph Keglovits and Cherie Gebhardt, whose terms will be ending this year. Paone praised Keglovits, who served as a councilman for four years, and Gebhardt who served for 12 years, for “all their valuable service to the borough.”