Alburtis Borough Council convened July 26 the for its second meeting of the month, addressing several critical matters affecting the community.

The meeting commenced with a public comment from a former member of the Alburtis Area Community Center, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the relationship between Alburtis Borough Council and the AACC. Accusations were made, alleging council members were overstepping their boundaries when dealing with AACC affairs, despite the two entities being entirely separate. This apparent confusion among residents and volunteers raised the need for clearer communication channels. It was emphasized anyone with concerns related to AACC should reach out directly to the organization and council members should refrain from direct involvement.

A federal inspector presented information from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regarding the West Penn Railroad Crossing. This was following safety concerns raised by Alburtis Police Chief Tony Alsleben.

After reviewing safety and accident reports, the commission recommended the borough close the crossing. As part of the proposed resolution, Norfolk Southern offered $60,000 to Alburtis to assist with the closure costs, with the state pledging to match the amount, totaling $120,000. The borough would be responsible for funding the remaining expenses.

Council President Ron DeIaco said if council decides not to close the crossing, no immediate action would be required. However, the PPUC might pursue formal action to close it in the future, and in such a scenario, state funding may no longer be available.

During the meeting, council approved the previous meeting minutes, bills for payment, treasurer’s report and fiscal consultant’s report. The total bills amounted to $80,768.47, with a significant portion allocated to engineering fees provided to Ott Consulting.

Councilman John Aleszczyk raised concerns about the escalating engineering costs associated with ongoing and upcoming projects. In response, DeIaco explained grant money was being secured to cover these costs and the budgeted yearly engineering expenses were relatively on target. However, due to the unpredictable nature of projects and grants received, finding a definitive answer to the issue remained challenging. The council agreed to continue discussing this matter in future meetings.

Moving on to administration matters, the advertisement for bid for the Bicentennial Village Multimodal Improvements Project was presented. Bids will be accepted until noon Aug. 30 through the PennBid Program. Council members had the opportunity to seek clarifications from Mike Preston of Ott Consulting, who was present at the meeting.

Next, three quotes for heat pump replacements required for Alburtis Borough Hall were received, with D&D Heating and Cooling offering the lowest quote of $10,212.50. Council approved this proposal, encompassing installation and repair warranties.

Alsleben proposed changes to Chapter 13-Police Civil Service, aiming to optimize the hiring process and ensure safety for Alburtis officers. Council accepted the recommendation applicants should possess at least three years of law enforcement experience at the time of application. However, further clarification was sought regarding the definition of past law enforcement experience.

Council declined the second recommendation, which aimed to allow part-time officers serving the borough to earn service points toward their written and oral examinations.

Council members discussed concerns over speeding in the borough and explored options for addressing the issue, including speed timing apparatus, flashing signs and speed tracking signs. However, a final decision was postponed to a future meeting.

Solicitor Dave Knerr concluded the meeting by seeking council’s approval to extend the garbage contract, which was granted.

The meeting adjourned, with the next session scheduled 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at 260 Franklin St.