Catasauqua Borough Councilman Paul Cmil was voted out of council at the Feb. 20 meeting.

Council Vice President Howard Cunningham cited the borough code section saying council members must reside within the borough. He then read from a solicitor letter to Cmil detailing evidence they discovered that Cmil recently moved to North Carolina, making him ineligible to serve on borough council.

The letter noted Cmil updated his mailing address to a North Carolina address. Additionally, the letter stated conversations with Cmil’s former landlord revealed he moved out of his Second Street, Catasauqua, residence in late December 2022. Cmil also reportedly changed his banking information with the borough to a North Carolina bank.

According to Cunningham, borough Manager Glenn Eckhart has reached out to Cmil several times with no response.

Cunningham then made a motion to remove Cmil from borough council, which was seconded by Councilman David Bernini. The motion passed unanimously 5-0, with two councilmen absent.

This means borough council is looking for a replacement. Any interested residents should reach out in writing to Eckhart by 4 p.m. March 3. The interested candidates will be introduced at the March 6 committee/workshop meeting. A final vote is expected at the March 20 business meeting.

In other business, Jason Kern, president of the George Taylor House group, shared an overview of 2022 with council. He noted the group received approximately $3,500 in donations, which are used for small projects around the historic mansion. He noted the group held 21 open houses and greeted about 400 visitors.

Kern added the GTH has about 20 volunteers who committed approximately 1,100 hours of their time staffing the events. He shared a quick overview of 2023 events, including Mother’s Day and paranormal events, the annual July 4 reading, Harvest and Haunts, tours and more.

“You look like you’re pretty self-sufficient,” Bernini said.

“We try,” Kern relied.

Eckhart reported the Department of Community and Economic Development is planning to conduct a study into the Catasauqua Police Department to explore “what we can do better or more efficiently.”

Council also heard about the results of a Department of Community and Economic Development study into the Catasauqua and North Catasauqua fire departments.

Eckhart noted the Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority is being put together. This group will help the borough with the Iron Works property. According to Eckhart, there is interest in the site from six parties. He added they are continuing to work on grant matches to fiscally stay on top of the project.

Mayor Barbara Schlegel reported police Chief Douglas Kish is recovering from surgery. She also noted they are working on increasing the number of full- and part-time officers.

The increase in part-time officer pay rate was on the agenda for the meeting but was tabled to give the solicitor more time to finalize the wording.

Engineer Vanessa Nedrick reported the wastewater treatment plant’s new sludge press was installed. She also noted work is continuing to prepare for the new generator. Later in the meeting, council approved the Foley Power Systems/CAT services agreement at $1,760 a year for the generator.

The finance committee report included a request for proposal for a strategic management planning program proposal. This program will offer “guidance to correct poor financial management and decisions over the last several years,” according to the proposal.

It will serve as an intervention program to help create a three- to five-year financial plan. The state approved the grant, and the borough is waiting for responses to the proposal.

Additionally, Eckhart commented on the Department of Economic Development offering peer training for the administration at no cost to the borough.

“Hopefully, we can learn something,” Eckhart noted.

Two contracts were approved by council members. The first was for Taylor House Brewing Company to lease the Southwark building to expand its production operation and storage. This will help keep the business in the borough and bring in more revenue. Council President Brian Bartholomew commented on this popular business that continues to bring people into the borough.

The second contract was for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to use the concrete pad at Fireman’s Field on Race Street during construction work at the Race and Lehigh streets intersection. The lease is for $1,500 a month.

In other fire department news, Chief Richard Hertzog addressed council about the sale of one of the department’s ladder trucks. He reminded them of the three options he detailed at the Feb. 6 meeting: advertising on Municibid, advertising in a fire publication or hiring a broker to handle the sale.

The board voted to hire Bob Bainbridge, who handles the used apparatus sales at Fire Line Equipment, to broker the sale. This was the most cost effective of the three options. The broker will list the truck and handle all inquiries and questions for the borough. The broker will receive 7% of the sale.

Regarding planning and zoning, Rich Luthcke was approved to serve as assistant zoning officer.

Councilwoman Jill Smerdon noted upcoming planning and zoning topics will include the number of residents and other concerns with what she called the “sober house” on Walnut Street and the ordinance requiring opaque fencing around junk yards.

Councilman Gene Schlegel said the summer concerts are “shaping up well.” The sponsor letter went out, and donations are already starting to come in.

He also noted they are discussing adding monthly flea markets during the summer.

Upcoming borough council meetings include the committee and workshop meetings beginning 6 p.m. March 6 and the regular business meeting 7 p.m. March 20. Meetings are held at the municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.