Catasauqua Press

The Borough of Catasauqua Iron Works was the site of another well-attended community event Saturday. It was the second event held at the site since the borough purchased the property and began preparing it for development. The Iron Works Summer Blast kept the momentum of the first celebration, held in November.

"We wanted this event to be more family-oriented," said borough Councilwoman Christine Weaver.

What proved to be most fascinating was a BMX track built by the Catty Woods Riders.

At the Catasauqua Borough Council meeting on June 1, Councilwoman Jessica Kroope proposed that the council extend a program started last year, in which North Catasauqua residents are offered memberships for use of the municipal pool. Under the rules, North Catasauqua residents can purchase season pool passes at the same rates Catasauqua residents pay.

"We need to get the word out that this is available to North Catasauqua," she said.

Season passes went on sale at the borough office and the pool June 6.

With three Hanover Township Council members out of town, Councilman Michael Woolley attended the May 20 council meeting via conference call in order for the meeting to have a quorum.

"We had several bills that needed to be paid so we held the meeting," explained Councilman Robert Heimbecker who was acting chairman for the session.

In addition to paying bills, council made some minor administrative changes.

One change required adjustments to the capital budget that were recorded incorrectly at the end of last year.

At the Red Rose Ceremony, held at the George Taylor House Sunday, Councilwoman Debra Mellish gave a brief history of land grants.

"When the King of England gave land grants, they were not permanent," she said. "You owned the land at the pleasure of the king. Displease the king and he could take the land back."

When the Catasauqua Borough Council voted to take eminent domain action against the owners of the property at 440 Front St., the motion passed by a vote of 5-1.

A concept design of the Iron Works project precipitated the action. According to the design for the property, which will include municipal facilities for administration, police and fire departments, the main entrance to the site would be a crossroads intersection at the base of Bridge Street. The road would pass through the center of the existing building at 440 Front St.

At the Hanover Township Council meeting June 3, township Solicitor Jackson Eaton reported state legislators are looking at legislation to take over Willowbrook Road.

"This is in the preliminary stage and no action is expected soon," he told The Press after the meeting. "They are discussing the possibility."

International shipping giant FedEx received approval in August 2014 to construct a one-million square foot warehouse in Allen Township for FedEx Ground Operations.

At Catasauqua Council's workshop session May 18, borough Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich reported that property on Crane Street, destroyed in a building collapse, has been sold at judicial sale.

"In a judicial sale, all liens are removed," he said. "It is similar to a bankruptcy. It gives new life to the property with a new owner."

The borough spent nearly $30,000 removing debris from the property after the roof collapsed in a winter storm last year. The listed owners of the property were not found.

Taxes due on the property were also forgiven.

At Catasauqua Council's workshop session May 18, borough Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich reported that property on Crane Street, destroyed in a building collapse, has been sold at judicial sale.

"In a judicial sale, all liens are removed," he said. "It is similar to a bankruptcy. It gives new life to the property with a new owner."

The borough spent nearly $30,000 removing debris from the property after the roof collapsed in a winter storm last year. The listed owners of the property were not found.

Taxes due on the property were also forgiven.

Hanover Township's attempt to keep firearms out of their public parks has met with failure, following the enactment of a state law in June 2014.

Pennsylvania Act 192 (the Uniform Firearms Act) states, in part, "No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth."

Several months ago, in a complicated zoning issue, Catasauqua Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder, who is also the borough code officer, cited John Silver, the owner of the Silver Manor, with zoning violations on property at the corner of Race and Front streets.

Rather than go through a protracted legal process, the owner, through his attorney, Joseph Piperato, asked the borough to work out a settlement. The borough and owner have been working on a resolution for several months.