North Catasauqua Borough Council held its reorganization meeting Jan. 3, which was immediately followed by the first regular meeting of the new year.

William Molchany Jr. was sworn in for another term as mayor, and council members Peter Paone, John Yanek and newcomers Dan Snyder and Mike Macsisak took an oath of office.

Paone and Yanek were both chosen to remain as president and vice president, respectively.

Other positions reappointed include Chris Wolfer, police chief; Roger Scheirer, fire chief; Dan Dougherty, assistant fire chief; Francis Hadik, fire marshal; and Connie Molchany, health officer. Emergency Management Co-coordinators Roger and Greg Scheirer will remain in their positions.

Steven Goudsouzian will remain the borough solicitor, and HA Berkheimer and Associates will remain the borough’s earned income tax collector. Truist Bank will remain the borough depositor. Keystone Consulting Engineers will remain the borough engineer, with employee Dave Kutzor serving as zoning officer for the borough.

Paone was selected to serve on the borough planning commission, but there is still a vacancy on the commission that needs to be filled before the first meeting Feb. 8. Any residents interested in serving on the planning commission should contact the borough office by phone at 610-264-1504 or by email at ncboro@rcn.com.

After all borough assignments were made, council voted to approve three major fees for the new year, including the new garbage fee of $400 for the year, with a $10 early payment discount and a $20 senior citizen discount. Macsisak said he did not like the new number, but Paone and other returning council members explained they did rebid that amount in 2021 and the only other options were more expensive.

A sewer rate at 150 percent of the water billing rate was approved, as well as a millage rate of 13.7 mills.

In other business, council approved the advertisement of a zoning appeal hearing Jan. 19, so the zoning board can approve or deny several zoning exceptions requested by the owner of the former Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1023 Fifth St.

Wolfer addressed council on an update to the borough’s parking ordinance, which will bar any vehicle attachments that are not connected to a vehicle from being parked on a borough roadway. This means items such as trailers and slow plows cannot be left in the road by themselves.

Additionally, the ordinance is being amended to say any vehicles with expired inspections or registrations cannot be parked in the borough. Council approved the ordinance to be advertised but has not yet voted to officially adopt it.

Wolfer also discussed the ongoing effort by borough officials to curb tractor-trailer traffic. He suggested the borough can pass an ordinance prohibiting the length of vehicles not making local deliveries, and this can be enforced as long as the borough has a certified tape measure.