Weissport Police Chief Matthew Williams reported that for April the department had 21 calls: four traffics stops, four disorderly conduct, three quality of life issues, two qualify of life warnings, two recovered stolen property issues, and one each ORD violation, suspicious vehicle, domestic dispute, identity theft, theft, disorderly conduct, criminal arrest, and administrative duties.

Other business

• Borough council voted to hire David Osbourn, of Palmerton, for the Public Works Department starting May 15 at $10 per hour, not to exceed 20 hours per week. Osbourn will be cutting grass with the riding mower.

• According to council member Joe Foster, the fence has been completed along the back of the property where the borough garages are located. He is looking at adding a back fence along the basketball courts. A map will be provided to the DEP to approve.

• A flagpole located in the Borough Park was broken because of recent storms. Council member Brenda Leiby picked up trash cans that were blown over. She observed that one trash can had a number of surgical gloves in it. Council will be looking at purchasing a new flagpole.

• Arland Moyer gave the monthly report on garbage and taxes. For the month of April, $7,621.52 in garbage fees was collected, with a year-to-date total of $56,478.52. Taxes collected for April were $13,352.27.

• Borough Secretary Aimee Shank requested an additional two hours per week to devote to completing the audit of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 treasurer books. The audits need to be completed for the sewer authority to obtain grants.

• A motion was passed to give Shank a pay raise from $13 to $15 per hour effective May 2.

• Shank said she heard from a neighbor complaining about speeding traffic along Bridge Street. Because Bridge Street is a state-owned highway, council cannot change the speed limit, which is 25 mph. It has been reported that cars and even some buses are speeding on Bridge Street.

• “There are people in town questioning about having chickens,” Council President Tom Ketchledge told Council members.

The current ordinance does not permit them, or other farm animals within borough limits. Borough Solicitor Greg Mousseau said he will contact other municipalities to see how they handle the situation and report back to council.

• Council will have cable lines installed in the Borough Hall by Blue Ridge Communications for $516.56.

• The borough had Seitz Brothers do an evaluation to help with the wasp situation. Wasps have been getting into the borough hall through the soffits and the lights. The first options would be $225 for the first application, then $150 per quarter after that. Another option is a one-time service of $325. Council members expressed concern about the costs not only of this, but other expenses the borough has been incurring. Council decided to take care of the wasp situation in house.

- James Logue