During the Oct. 16 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, Chad Helmer, from Taggart Associates, presented an update on the Iron Works project.

After council approved the memorandum of understanding with the Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County at the Sept. 18 meeting, the memorandum was executed and coordination efforts began to move the project forward.

Borough and Redevelopment Authority officials and professionals have begun working to create the draft request for proposal for development. The draft will be reviewed and discussed at the initial meeting of the project advisory committee, scheduled for Oct. 20.

The current plan is to finalize the document based on the discussions at the meeting and have it prepared for release on or about Nov. 2.

Borough and Redevelopment Authority officials met virtually Oct. 13 with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Multimodal Transportation Fund grant manager to discuss the new approach to the marketing and sale of the property and the implications of the MTF grant. A similar meeting was expected to occur with the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program manager Oct. 17.

The borough reportedly continues to receive new inquiries about the project and the pending availability of the request for proposals. The list of contacts who have expressed interest is now more than a dozen.

Council members thanked Helmer for his dedication to this project.

In other business, borough Manager Glenn Eckhart reported the $9.80 per capita tax is being eliminated. First, it is more trouble to collect than to not collect it, he said. Second, they want to give taxpayers a break at this time.

Discussions for the pending 2024 budget took place. It was noted the $190,000 budgeted for the bucket truck was eliminated. There is no plan to purchase a bucket truck at this time.

There is a new line item of $7,500 for tree removal. This was added due to the large number of downed trees during the past couple of years that had to be removed for safety. Eckhart noted there will be no increase in water or sewer fees since Catasauqua already has some of the highest fees in the area. Discounts will likely be given to those residents who pay early, it was reported.

Council Vice President Howard Cunningham brought up two budget and funding concerns.

Cunningham said the borough must stop borrowing money from the sewer fund to help balance the general fund if it is low.

He also said the 2023 police budget was $120,000. To date, however, $128,000 has been spent, Cunningham said.

Police Chief Douglas Kish replied two officers were out, and the shifts had to be filled. He said he is making every effort possible to avoid extensive overtime.

Eckhart noted there are funds from a grant to help supplement the police department expenses, but that grant will not exist in 2025.

Councilwoman Jill Smerdon reported an area she called “the 10th Street junkyard” is still in need of a fence. She also mentioned a group home in the borough has been getting allegations of abuse to its clients. Kish said the police department had been called out to investigate and saw no visible signs of abuse. At this time, Kish stressed, they are only allegations.

Resident Mike Snyder, of Circle Drive, reported someone in his neighborhood is operating a repair and remodeling business in an area restricted for residential zoning. Council said it would look into the matter.

Councilman Gene Schlegel reported there is a bingo event to support Catasauqua parks Nov. 4. There is a cost; a discount applies if tickets are purchased in advance.

Mayor Barbara Schlegel said the George Taylor House committee is hosting a Halloween haunt Oct. 28. Local cyberschools have been scheduled to tour the historic home, located at Lehigh and Poplar streets. She added tours are given noon-4 p.m. the third Saturday of every month.

Bills approved by council include $483,072.80 for general, $40,018.97 for water, $69,445.19 for sewer and $7,749.46 for state fund highway/liquid fuels. Additionally, the board approved $208,259.13 for Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 payrolls.

Council will next meet 6 p.m. Nov. 6 for committee meetings or a workshop meeting. The next business meeting will be 7 p.m. Nov. 20. Meetings are held at the borough municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.