ALLENTOWN – The Borough Council has set Dec. 12 as the date for a public hearing on an ordinance that will provide funding for water improvements in Allentown.
Residents may comment on the ordinance at that time and council members may vote to adopt the ordinance following the public hearing.
On Nov. 28, the council introduced a bond ordinance appropriating $2.96 million and authorizing the issuance of $2.935 million in bonds or notes to finance the planned upgrades.
Mayor Greg Westfall said work will include the replacement of water meters, the installation of curb stop shut-off valves, upgrades to Allentown’s elevated water tank and improvements at the water treatment plant.
The ordinance was introduced with a 5-0 vote from council President Wil Borkowski, Councilman Robert Strovinsky, Councilman Rob Schmitt, Councilwoman Johnna Stinemire and Councilman Thomas Fritts. Councilwoman Angela Anthony was absent.
In other business, a resolution authorizing Westfall to sign a municipal court shared services agreement with Upper Freehold Township was removed from the agenda and tabled.
Westfall explained that Allentown does not have secure facilities at the municipal building that allow court sessions to be held there. For the past three years, Allentown has had a shared services agreement with Plumsted Township for its municipal court needs.
The mayor said officials in Upper Freehold Township expressed interest in sharing their municipal court with Allentown. He said details being examined include the number of court employees that would be required and the share of the costs each municipality would pay.
“I think we need to revisit the idea of this shared service with Upper Freehold,” Westfall said before the resolution was removed from the agenda.
Borkowski said Allentown representatives are still in the process of negotiating an agreement regarding the provision of municipal court services.
And, zoning officer Joseph McGrath reported that progress is being made on issues involving abandoned and/or vacant properties in the borough.
He said several properties that have caused problems for municipal officials and residents are currently up for sale and in some cases awaiting closing.
“What we have left are some hardcore problems (properties) that we really need to move forward on” using regulations that are included in an abandoned property ordinance the council passed earlier this year, McGrath said.
Finally, the council has scheduled an additional meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 26 at Borough Hall.
