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Freemansburg council approves reconstruction payments, adopts pay ordinance and renews garbage contract
Summary
At its May 6 meeting, Freemansburg Borough Council authorized payments totaling more than $458,000 for Main Street and amphitheater work, adopted Ordinance #2025-002 setting council and mayor compensation, approved a one-year garbage contract renewal with Whitetail Disposal and formed a blight taskforce.
Freemansburg Borough Council on May 6 approved a series of motions to progress the borough’s infrastructure projects and revise elected officials’ pay.
The council authorized Application for Payment No. 7 to Construction Masters Services, LLC for the Main Street Reconstruction Project in the amount of $91,742.30, and Payment No. 8 for $234,184.58. The meeting also approved Payment No. 2 to T. Schiefer Contractors for amphitheater retaining walls and related work for $132,750.00. Jim Smith moved each payment motion and they passed unanimously (6–0).
Council adopted Ordinance #2025-002, which fixes compensation rates for council members and the mayor. The ordinance was moved by Council Member Monica Elliott and carried 6–0; the minutes do not record the name of the second.
The body also authorized the borough solicitor to draft an ordinance to permit collection of Per Capita Tax and Occupation Tax; that motion, moved by Jim Smith and seconded by Monica Elliott, passed 6–0.
On solid-waste services, Council authorized a renewal contract prepared by Broughal & DeVito L.L.P. to extend service with Whitetail Disposal for a final one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026. That motion, moved by Jim Smith and seconded by Monica Elliott, passed 6–0.
Council approved a set of administrative motions including authorizing the Administrative Office to close for lunch from 12:00–12:30 Monday through Wednesday (motion by Margaret Lorrah, second Charles Derr; passed 6–0) and approving April 1, 2025 meeting minutes (motion by Monica Elliott, second Margaret Lorrah; passed 5–1 with Jim Smith recorded as abstaining).
A motion by Charles Derr, second Jim Smith, authorized resident Homer Lorrah to relinquish one sanitation cart for a residence that has a dumpster; the motion passed 4–2, with Margaret Lorrah and Homer Lorrah recorded as abstaining.
Council also authorized formation of a Blight Property Taskforce, to include up to three council members, police officers and the zoning officer, to review properties with ongoing violations; the motion (moved by Monica Elliott, second Jim Smith) passed 6–0.
The council reviewed an email from CDR Maguire Engineering about upcoming repairs to the Freemansburg Bridge (SR3005, Main Street) and noted a separate meeting scheduled with PennDOT on May 21 regarding a Turnback funding request for $1,151,326; both items were informational.
Votes at a glance: • Authorize draft: Per Capita & Occupation Tax ordinance — mover: Jim Smith; second: Monica Elliott; outcome: passed 6–0. • Payment No. 7 to Construction Masters — $91,742.30 — mover: Jim Smith; second: Charles Derr; outcome: passed 6–0. • Payment No. 8 to Construction Masters — $234,184.58 — mover: Jim Smith; second: Monica Elliott; outcome: passed 6–0. • Payment No. 2 to T. Schiefer Contractors — $132,750.00 — mover: Jim Smith; second: Monica Elliott; outcome: passed 6–0. • Adopt Ordinance #2025-002 (council/mayor compensation) — mover: Monica Elliott; second: not specified in minutes; outcome: passed 6–0. • Relinquish sanitation cart for Homer Lorrah — mover: Charles Derr; second: Jim Smith; outcome: passed 4–2 (Margaret Lorrah and Homer Lorrah abstained). • Approve Whitetail Disposal one-year renewal — mover: Jim Smith; second: Monica Elliott; outcome: passed 6–0. • Authorize Blight Property Taskforce — mover: Monica Elliott; second: Jim Smith; outcome: passed 6–0.
The council adjourned the open meeting and entered an executive session to discuss litigation, property acquisition and personnel matters. The minutes record no public testimony on the financial or contract motions beyond the formal votes.
