Nearly 75 residents attended, both in-person and virtually, the June 27 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting to express displeasure with the attempted scuttling of the Iron Works project.

It was also reported Sandra Gyecsek resigned her role as borough treasurer. Gyecsek was unavailable for comment as of press time.

She joins borough Manager Stephen Travers as the second high-profile administrator resignation.

About 15 residents shared their thoughts about the decision to cancel the agreement with Dunn Twiggar during the hearing of persons present agenda item.

Developer Andy Twiggar explained there was an anticipated $2 million shortfall due to the current economic circumstances and his firm, Dunn Twiggar, requested an agreement extension. He was informed May 31 that a June 1 publicly advertised meeting had been canceled by Catasauqua Borough Council President Brian Bartholomew.

Twiggar said he asked Travers if a new meeting would be set up and was told Bartholomew said there was no reason to meet because the agreement would not be extended.

Twiggar reportedly said his firm is willing to do the project if an extension is granted.

The sale of agreement lapsed June 4, reportedly taking place without full council knowledge.

An architect who worked on the project pointed out a road map was laid out for council to follow. He noted the project would benefit the borough in terms of accruing much-needed tax revenue.

“I hate to see someone build a warehouse there,” he added.

A former council member noted the borough is not bankrupt and reported the use of a tax anticipation loan is not unusual due to the gaps between bills needing payment and tax revenue receipts. She asked council to plan for the future as the developed Iron Works project was anticipated to increase tax revenue.

“We are throwing away the future of everyone in Catty,” she said.

In response to another resident’s questions, Travers noted the borough does not have an emergency fund and needed to use tax anticipation loans twice before during the pandemic when residents either couldn’t pay their taxes or only made partial payments. Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker reported more than $1 million of taxpayer money was put into the project thus far.

Another resident noted these projects take time and expressed displeasure with Travers resigning his manager position.

“Now we have to start from scratch,” she said.

Another resident criticized council, saying it has its own agenda.

“We need the Iron Works project. You guys blew it,” a resident said. “Enough is enough - build the Iron Works.”

Reportedly, the Vision of Catasauqua statement was taken down from the borough website. A resident asked who authorized the vision statement removal from the website. Vice President Howard Cunningham reportedly made the decision with Bartholomew, but the other members of council were not informed.

“The agreement was terminated, so there was no reason to leave it up,” Cunningham said.

Councilman David Bernini disagreed with the decision to remove the vision statement from the website because of its historical statements about the borough.

A resident asked Councilman Gene Schlegel what his thoughts are about the project.

“The problem to me is people don’t know we are $20 million in debt,” Schlegel said.

He said the project is not dead but then said, “We are broke.”

Another former council member noted the borough is not broke and that it is “irresponsible” to say Catasauqua is broke.

A person who worked on the project said this project has county, state and federal support.

A resident involved in tax assessment in Northampton County noted Catasauqua has nothing coming in regarding tax revenue growth. Other municipalities have long-term projects that boost tax revenue. He noted everyone wants the betterment of Catasauqua.

“Your job is to ask us what we want, not just your agenda,” he told council members.

Dinkelacker gave an in-depth report on the current financial status of the Iron Works project. He said, based on a new estimate, it appears the funding gap is now estimated as a $3.1 million shortfall.

The solicitor made no recommendation regarding the Iron Works project.

“I am embarrassed to say I am from Catty,” a resident said, adding he believes Catasauqua is the laughing stock of the Lehigh Valley. He said there is not enough transparency with Bartholomew, adding this is not a dictatorship.

He also commented on how some members of council want to cancel workshop meetings and committee meetings. He noted there was just a major incident at the borough park, so there are reasons to meet.

Council went into executive session to discuss personnel, regarding the recent resignations, and any potential legal issues regarding the Iron Works project.