Alburtis Borough Council held its regular meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 29 following an executive session conducted 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order with all council members present and it began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public comment was then opened, which saw a resident complain about trash consistently blowing into her yard. The council explained if she can find out whose this is, she should contact Borough Manager Stephen Nemeth and he will take the appropriate next steps.

Alburtis Mayor Kathleen Palmer did not have a report for council.

Following this, council reviewed and approved the meeting minutes of Jan. 8. Council also approved the borough’s bills for payment as of Jan. 29. The fiscal consultant’s report was then presented and approved as well.

Under new business, council introduced Ordinance No. 593, which proposed increased fees related to police accident reports and traffic violations. The ordinance called for raising the fee for a police accident report to $25, increasing fines for most traffic control violations to $45 and adjusting the prompt payment structure for traffic tickets to $25 if paid within 72 hours and $35 if paid within 10 days. After discussion, council approved the ordinance.

Council tabled the public hearing to review Ordinance No. 594. This was due to a needed addition within the written ordinance.

Ordinance No. 594 seeks to rezone three properties along Church Street and Scenic View Drive from an L-1 Light Industrial-Office Research District to an R-2 Medium-Density Residential District. Additionally, it aims to establish specific restrictions on properties within the 100-year floodplain or within 300 feet of it, including limitations on residential use, bed-and-breakfast facilities and recreational and educational institutions.

The ordinance also proposed a minimum lot area requirement of 6,500 square feet for single-family homes and a maximum residential density of two units per acre. This ordinance is in response to a rezoning request by Jaindl, which was recently approved by the council.

Liesel Gross, from LCA, was not in attendance for the update on the regional sewer plan. An update should be provided at a later meeting.

Council members then debated the potential reduction of speed limits within the borough. The discussion focused on traffic safety concerns, specifically around crowded neighborhoods and school zones. No final decision was reached.

The meeting also included a review of yearly quotes from Bartlett Tree Service, specifically for webworm treatment. After a short discussion, council approved the quote.

In a community-focused initiative, the council discussed an upcoming event, “Painting with the Police,” hosted by the Alburtis Area Community Center. The event aims to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and borough residents. The AACC is hoping to make this an annual event.

The meeting concluded with an announcement the office of state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-16th, will host a pop-up office at the Alburtis Borough building 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20. The event will provide residents with an opportunity to speak directly with the senator and his staff about legislative concerns and available state resources. Coleman represents the boroughs of Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington boroughs in Lehigh County.

The next meeting will be held 7 p.m. Feb. 12. The council meetings are held in Alburtis Borough Hall, 260 Franklin St.