During the July 17 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, council members voted to extend the emergency proclamation restricting parking on Front Street.

Mayor Barbara Schlegel issued the proclamation for no parking on the east side of Front Street from Strawberry Street to Pine Street due to the Race Street waterline relocation and replacement project. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation created a left-turn lane northbound on Front Street to Pine Street because of that road work.

According to the resolution documents, there was concern “the situation was dangerous to life, health, property and the public peace.”

The original emergency declaration was effective July 14-20.

Council agreed with the mayor’s assessment of the situation and agreed to approve an extension. Resolution 7-2023 extends the emergency proclamation until Aug. 28 or until the Race Street waterline relocation and replacement project is completed.

In other business, council approved ordinance 1427, which amends an existing ordinance related to sewer tapping fees.

This action is based off an engineer study, and the issue went through committee and had been discussed by council members. The ordinance document noted the standard connection fee of $3,255 had been amended and set in 2015. It was noted this amount is outdated and an increase was due.

The new, approved standard sewer connection fee is $4,608.54 for 226 gallons per day.

The engineer’s report included information on grants for the borough. Nahi Khoury, of Remington and Vernick Engineers, discussed two grants to address streetscape beautification to help revitalize the downtown area.

A Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside grant would be used for Front Street, from Wood Street to Union Street. Potential improvements would include addressing sidewalks, curbing, lighting and pedestrian safety.

This grant would cover construction costs and not require matching funds from the borough.

The other grant would come from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund to revitalize along Bridge Street.

Both of the grants had applications or pre-applications due before the end of the month, so the engineers asked council to approve them moving forward with those applications.

Council also approved the engineers to move ahead with the sludge removal bid contracts.

It was also noted the borough received feedback on a recent Greenway Trail grant. The borough submitted for two borough projects - improvements to the existing basketball and tennis courts and a new park at 14th and Poplar streets. The borough was told to select one.

After discussions between the engineers, borough manager and public works, they chose the new park plan, citing the fact that there is no park in south Catasauqua.

Council next meets for committee meetings and a workshop starting 6 p.m. Aug. 7. The next business meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 21. All meetings are held at the municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.