At the March 3 Northampton Borough Council meeting, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce received permission to use the borough’s portable band shell for a festival in neighboring Catasauqua.

Last year, Catasauqua Borough held its inaugural StrEAT Fest. The event was well attended and reportedly a huge success for the borough as borough leaders work to develop events and activities designed to transform Catasauqua from a pass-through community to a destination community.

Northampton council members approved the use of the portable band shell 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 9 by Catasauqua Borough for its second annual StrEAT Fest. Catasauqua will have to provide a certificate of insurance and pay a small delivery and removal fee.

GLVCC, through its various affiliated Chambers, has sponsored numerous events throughout the Lehigh Valley for businesses and municipalities to work together and promote their activities.

In other business, Northampton Borough Police Chief Bryan Kadingo received council permission to send one of his sergeants to a supervision of police personnel training. The cost is $1,000. The training is offered by the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.

Also, council approved the hiring of a part-time police officer, Robert Lindsey, to join the department. Lindsey works as a paramedic for St. Luke’s Hospital.

The owners of a property at 209 E. 18th St., Northampton, received council permission to add a second driveway on the north side of their property. The additional driveway might eliminate two street-parking spaces. It was reported parking is not an issue in that neighborhood.

Council approved a request to hire a part-time code enforcement officer. An applicant has been identified, but his hire is contingent on his passing a physical and background check.

It was reported state Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, is planning a paper shredding event 10 a.m.-noon April 30 in the parking lot of Northampton Banquet and Event Center, 1601 Laubach Ave. This is a popular annual event sponsored by Mako.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst notified council Keystone Municipal Insurance Trust will rebate $6,955 to the borough’s workers’ compensation insurance for 2021. The rebate will be credited toward an upcoming monthly insurance payment.

Code Enforcement Officer Keith Knoblach reported 292 rental properties have been registered so far this year. This represents about 57 percent of rentals registered. The registration deadline is March 31.

Brobst and Mayor Tony Pristash will be meeting with the Rev. Jerry Mraz to discuss plans for a butterfly garden project in Canal Street Park.

The public works department plans to clear underbrush when the weather warms along the Lehigh River by the Hokendauqua Creek.

The next Northampton Borough Council meeting is 7:30 p.m. March 17 at the Northampton municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave. It is an in-person-only meeting.