The Slatington Borough Council approved a modification to their ordinance related to grease traps during their meeting Monday night. The modification forbids the use of emulsifiers to thin grease so it passes through the restaurant’s grease trap.

“They’re supposed to clean out their grease traps,” said Borough Manager Dan Stevens.

Stevens said emulsifiers temporarily liquefy the grease, but then it solidifies further down the pipe. The chemicals also cause a problem with the biologics at the sewer plant.

“It gets rid of the problem for them and turns into our problem,” he said.

With the modification unanimously approved, businesses with a license for food service will be receiving a letter from the borough to let them know about the ordinance.

Stevens said that due to the pandemic, many food service businesses are not open. For that reason, the inspections probably will not begin soon. When they do, the health inspector and the sewer plant operator will both go out to do the inspections.

In other business, the borough has a few building projects planned for when construction can resume in the state. One of those projects is the installation of flooring in the police department. The council approved hiring Slatington Floor Center Inc. for $5,835. The company’s quote was $300 more than Enterprise Flooring, but the Floor Center’s flooring has a 15-year warranty. This is five years longer than the warranty from Enterprise.

“For the $300, an extra five years is pretty good,” council member Dave Schnaars said.

“They’re both good outfits,” Stevens replied, but the extra warranty won over the council.

The council also approved installing four emergency lighting fixtures at the maintenance building. The work will be done by BEI Electrical in Allentown and will cost $1,200.

Schnaars said the purchase of the lights was recommended by the Public Safety Committee, and reminded the council that it is part of workman’s compensation to follow up on the committee’s recommendations.

“It’s a real safety hazard,” he said. “I’m going to move that we approve this quote and get it done.”

The borough also plans to add a total of 10 new angled parking spots at Memorial Park. Stevens said PPL agreed to move a pole, which will make it possible to add a few more spots.

The project is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant. When completed, there will be a total of 15 parking spots along Kuntz Street, including five others that currently exist across the street.

Due to the pandemic, the council approved two resolutions temporarily giving the borough manager the authority to perform some duties on behalf of the borough without first getting approval through a committee or council vote.

“It’s so they wouldn’t have to hold an emergency meeting,” Stevens said.

The first resolution allows him to execute the grant agreement for the state’s ARLE Funding Program (Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program) and to sign all future documents on behalf of the borough. They second resolution grants him the ability to conduct business for the borough including purchases up to $25,000. Stevens said that the expenditures would still need the approval of council President Bryon Reed and the approval of the committee chairman.

The council also decided to cancel all committee meetings for April and will decide about meetings in May at a later date due to the coronavirus. They also rescheduled the electronic recycling event to May 30.

“Keep our fingers crossed we can still do it,” Schnaars said.

And lastly, the council approved hiring Jason Rosenberg as a part-time police officer, pending his background checks.