During the July 15 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, council members approved a new three-year garbage collection contract. The current contract with J.P. Mascaro and Sons is set to expire at the end of the month.

The contract was put out for bid with two options — two-day-a-week garbage pickup and one-day-a-week pickup. Both options also include once-a-week recycling pickup. There were two bids for the contract. J.P. Mascaro made bids for both options, and Whitetail Disposal made a bid on the once-a-week option.

Sam Augustine, J.P. Mascaro director of sales and marketing, and Al DeGennaro, J.P. Mascaro deputy general counsel, attended the meeting to answer council’s questions and make their case for continued service to the borough. They noted they appreciate and value the relationship they’ve built with the borough and believe they made a competitive bid.

“We’re local so we care,” Augustine said.

They noted prices have “exploded” since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for labor, insurance and disposal costs. This accounts for the increase in their bid prices. The question they wanted council to consider is if they want to decrease the services offered to residents by going down to one day a week for collection while increasing the fees.

Council members noted quickly that since Whitetail only made a bid for one of the options and J.P. Mascaro’s bid was lower, the borough would be sticking with J.P. Mascaro. The question at hand was whether to choose the twice-a-week option or one-day collection.

After lengthy discussion about cost differences and taking into account how the change to once-a-week collection would affect residents, council voted unanimously to approve J.P. Mascaro to collect garbage two days a week, with one day of recycling collection. Council members noted they understand the strain a fee increase will have on the residents, but that option made the most sense for the community.

In other business, council approved an ordinance and a number of resolutions. Ordinance 1437 was approved to vacate a portion of North 13th Street for the Pearl Street development project. The vacation had been discussed previously, but, according to borough Solicitor Charles Smith, an official ordinance is required to vacate a street per the borough code.

In a related matter, one of the resolutions made minor adjustments to legal wording of the agreement for the Pearl Street development. Smith noted none of the content of the agreement changed, just some of the wording.

Council also approved a resolution to submit a Strategic Management Planning Program grant application. Borough Treasurer Catherine VanDyne reported the grant would help upgrade outdated software and computers. She and borough Manager Glenn Eckhart noted the accounting software is in need of the upgrade, and this grant would hopefully help cover some of the costs.

The final resolution was regarding the towing contract for noncommercial vehicles. The new restrictions require a company to be no more than 10 miles outside of Catasauqua to do business for the borough. The police department officer in charge and mayor have discretion over which vendors are utilized by the borough. This change to expanding to 10 miles is an effort to ensure the borough has adequate access to qualified vendors.

In Eckhart’s report, he noted the borough’s bond rating has improved. He said the rating was reduced to BB+ with a negative outlook back in 2021. Recently, the borough was upgraded from negative past stable and to BB+ positive. He also noted they discussed objectives for the borough to focus on to aim for an upgrade out of junk bond status to investment bond status in two years.

Engineer Vanessa Nedrick asked council to approve items for a number of projects. She noted the wastewater treatment plant control building roof replacement project received four bids. She recommended council approve the low bid of $79,952.50 to H&P Construction. The funding for this project will come out of bond funds, it was noted.

There were seven bids received for the influent pump replacement project. Nedrick recommended council approve Derstine Company LLC’s bid for $315,000. The borough received $255,000 in grant funding for the project. It was noted the borough can use sewer bond money to cover the difference.

The trickling filter replacement project received four bids. Nedrick recommended council approve Derstine’s bid of $290,000. The borough also has grant funds to cover this project in the amount of $409,672. Nedrick’s suggestion was to use the remaining grant funds to purchase a second trickling filter since the borough is already having trouble with its current remaining trickling filter.

Council was also asked to approve the local limits adoption. Every five years, a test must be done to measure and limit the amount of pollutants going from the treatment plant into local waters. The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection reviewed and approved the evaluation and levels reported. This council approval was to notify the affected municipalities about the limits.

Council approved all of Nedrick’s recommendations.

A concern was brought to Nedrick’s attention concerning a closure of a section of Race Street as part of the Lehigh and Race streets intersection improvement project. It was alleged Grace Industries was not effective in its method of informing the community. The closure and subsequent detours start 6 p.m. July 26 and covers the intersections of Bridge Street and Lehigh Avenue in West Catasauqua to Race and Lehigh streets in Catasauqua.

Council President Howard Cunningham reported the Iron Works Advisory Committee and Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority met to review proposals and awarded the contract to VM Development. Further discussions and negotiations will occur in August.

Council members approved the adoption of the borough’s capital plan. Eckhart noted he adjusted the capital plan to span 10 years. He mentioned they are behind on many of the capital expenditures, and, due to budgetary constraints, the plan will probably need to be stretched out further. This plan gives a detailed priority list of what needs to be addressed to assist with future planning.

Councilman Eugene Schlegel reported he has heard from several police officers that some residents are having trouble with the new one-way traffic pattern on a section of Front Street. Council suggested they put the digital signage back up for a little longer to help remind residents.

Councilwoman Tara Nicholas noted the River Central Multi-Municipal Planning Steering Committee is considering a consulting firm to help with regional planning. They are also questioning how much Lehigh County will help with funding for ordinances and resolutions.

Nicholas also noted there are two openings on both the zoning hearing board and the borough planning commission. Interested residents should reach out to the borough office for more information.

Mayor Barbara Schlegel complimented the work being done by Officer John Wiseman in serving as the department’s officer in charge until a new police chief is named. She noted in addition to patrolling, he is doing in-house management and working on updating the department’s policies for accreditation.

“He’s doing a wonderful job,” she said.

Council will be holding interviews for the next police chief Aug. 1. A special meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 to officially select and name the new chief.

Both Barbara Schlegel and Councilman Eugene Schlegel congratulated and lauded the George Taylor House volunteers for putting on a successful Independence Day event.

Councilman Eugene Schlegel also noted the borough Shade Tree Commission needs to replace five dedicated trees at Fireman’s Field. Eckhart reported they are trying for a grant to help replace 10 trees.

“We have a plan,” Eckhart said.

Council next meets 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 for the special meeting, and committee meetings begin 6 p.m. The next regular business meeting is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 19. All meetings are held at the municipal building, 90 Bridge St.