North Catasauqua Borough Police Chief Chris Wolfer told council, during its Feb. 21 meeting, the beginning phases of the truck traffic enforcement ordinance are underway. The police department has obtained a state-certified tape measure that can be used to measure the length of tractor-trailers.

Using the new tape measure and the upcoming ordinance, the department can ticket vehicles over a certain length that are not making local deliveries.

Borough residents and officials are hopeful this will help curb tractor-trailer traffic in the borough.

The police department is also looking to hire a new part-time officer to replace Officer Quentin Knecht, who will be leaving the NCPD’s part-time position to become full time in another municipality.

Borough council approved the police department to spend $320 for eight memberships to the shooting range at Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club, Northampton.

Councilman Mike Macsisak informed Wolfer he and several neighbors have seen numerous instances of drivers going the wrong way down the one-way section of Third Street. Wolfer said it was the first he had heard of it. He suggested residents call 911 immediately when they see someone driving the wrong way in a one way.

Even if the police can’t arrive in time to catch someone, Wolfer said, it’s important to put it in as a formal complaint so the department knows to address the issue and has a sense of how common it is.

Borough Treasurer Annette Englert presented council with a revised 2022 maintenance proposal from ANS HVAC for $1,600, which is down $479 from the first proposal. Englert said Travis Brett, public works supervisor, reviewed the required maintenance with the contractor and agreed with the cost of the proposal, so borough council voted to accept.

Borough Secretary Tasha Jandrisovitz announced the date of a public zoning hearing regarding the property at 1021 Fifth St., the former Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. The hearing will be 5:30 p.m. March 22 at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St.

The developer of the property is looking to rent out four one-bedroom apartments in the building. The original proposal was for four two-bedroom apartments.

Council continued the ongoing discussion of what to do with the property at 408 Buttonwood St., which the borough currently owns and has put roughly $90,000 into in the years since issues with the property first arose. Council unanimously agreed it should sell the property so the borough does not absorb any more costs to maintain or repair it.

Borough officials will begin searching for a real estate agent to help sell the property.

Council President Peter Paone gave an update on the storm sewer project on and around Main Street.

Residents and borough officials have complained about major bumps along Main Street where trenches were dug to install new storm sewers. Paone said the contractor, Barasso Construction, will be asked to backfill those holes again.

The borough plans to fully repave the road at the end of the project.

Assistant Fire Chief Dan Dougherty came before council with an update on repairs to one of the fire department’s engines. The newly repaired pump was damaged when it was first run again, meaning the borough will need to spend an additional $6,000 on new replacement parts to fix it.

Dougherty said the borough will not be charged for the extra labor. This will bring the total cost to fully fix the engine to roughly $35,000, but that cost is necessary if the borough hopes to be able to sell the entire vehicle at a reasonable price in the future.

With a nonfunctioning pump, the fire engine can only be sold for its scrap value, but Dougherty said if it is fully functional, the borough could sell the vehicle for $150,000 to $200,000 down the line once it is ready to upgrade.

Council passed a motion permitting the fire department to spend up to $35,500 to pay for repairs to the fire engine.

The borough is still looking for a third volunteer to become a member of the planning commission. Currently, Paone and Brian Cope are the only members.

Mayor William Molchany announced the J4 committee will hold a meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at borough hall.