The Bowmanstown Borough Council dealt with several weighty issues during Tuesday night's meeting.

In regard to an ongoing issue with the Prince property, solicitor James Preston discussed the borough's multiuse versus single-use zoning laws in detail.Afterward, President William Ravert asked the council, "Would anyone want to authorize the solicitor to investigate the multiuse zoning issues at the former Prince location?"Councilwoman Kara Scott, who has spoken out several times at meetings in regard to the Prince property, made the motion, which was seconded by Councilwoman Pam Leiby. The motion carried 5-1, with Councilman Chad Everett opposing.The Prince property, located in the industrial-commercial zone at 700 Lehigh St., was formerly a paint pigment plant called Prince Manufacturing. In May of 2008, nearly 100 people gathered at a Bowmanstown zoning appeals hearing to oppose East Penn Township developer Duane Schleicher's plans to turn the 12-acre complex into a garbage and recycling station.In 2010, the zoning hearing board unanimously decided to allow Schleicher to have both Walsh Construction, the turnpike contractor, and High On You hot air balloons as storage tenants there, stipulating no other use will be granted at the site.Since then, however, residents have said they believe other types of storage, such as that of boats and other vehicles, plus recycling and other uses have taken place on the property, thus breaking the borough's single-use zoning law.An amendment to the zoning ordinance, stating that no lot shall have more than one principle use, had been passed in April of 2009; however, it is dated after Schleicher purchased the property (in 2006).Council approvestax increaseCouncil unanimously approved its 2014 budget and the Ordinance 2013-03 Tax Levy, which provides for a 1-mill tax increase. Both items had been presented by Ravert at the council's Nov. 5 meeting.In regard to the budget, and comments made during the November meeting, Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Spairana said he was present to ask Ravert to clarify some comments he'd made last month about the fire company's 2014 donation.Ravert said the fire company will receive the same $5,000 donation in 2014 that it always gets annually, but that the additional $5,000 it had requested for next year will need to be split up into donations of $2,000 each over the next three years, adding up to $6,000 instead of $5,000.Other businessIn other matters, engineer Jessica Rehrig said the Oak Street project has gotten the preliminary go-ahead from PennDOT Municipal Services representative John Davis to use Liquid Fuels money for spring of 2014.Also, Ravert said complaints have again been filed against the truck traffic on White Street destroying the road. He said he spoke Monday with Palmerton Borough Council President Terry Costenbader, who said there is a plan under way to very soon add another entrance to the old zinc company west plant near Palmerton's westernmost traffic light along Delaware Avenue.He also announced that the Biennial Organization meeting, which will also serve as the official borough council meeting, will be held Jan. 6.Ravert thanked outgoing council members Troy Muffley and Chad Everett for their years of service before announcing that Mayor Keith Billig, who has served in office for 28 years, will be retiring at the end of 2013."I know things that Keith didn't always satisfy everybody," Ravert said, "but I think he always had the interest of the borough at heart."Later, during a small going away party held afterward, Ravert added that Billig "will be sorely missed as a representative of the borough."