Winter will soon be over and spring is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for the annual spring clean-up.  Remove all garbage and other debris from your property.  Also, cars without current license plates and/or inspection stickers must be removed from the streets.

I have named David Guidon as Emergency Management Coordinator and Frank Gergar as his deputy.  We will now be looking for volunteers to build our staff.  If you would like to serve, see Dave or Frank or call the Mayor at 610-866-2221, ext. 106.

In the near future, the underpass should be a thing of the past.  Borough officials and PennDOT are nearing the final phase of planning.  The plans call for the road to be straightened, eliminating the S-turn under the rail trestle.  When construction starts, the road will be closed to all traffic, and detour signs will be in place. 

 Don’t forget! The P&R Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday, March 8^th at 2 pm at Cambria St. Park Pavilion (Rain date Sunday, March 9^th).  Egg painting is Friday night, March 7^th at 6:30 pm at Borough Hall.

Please Note: The Borough Offices will be closed Friday, March 21^st and Monday, May 26^th.  Regular business hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm unless otherwise posted. 

Mayor:  Gerald C. Yob

Council President:

     Francine Korpics Heft

Vice President:  Charles Derr

Council Members:

     Lisa Bartholomew

     Kitty Gallagher

     Rita Gomes

     Donald Lasso

     Homer Lorrah

Tax Collector: Davina Gallich. 

Borough Council: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 7:00 pm
Parks and Recreation Board: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 pm.
Planning Commission: 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.
Zoning Hearing Board: last Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.
American Legion Post 31: 1st Thursday of each month (September through June).
Volunteer Fire Company: Last Thursday of each month.

The Parks and Recreation Board is looking for volunteers. There are also openings for alternates on the Zoning Hearing Board and the Civil Service Commission. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact the Borough office at 610-866-2220 x 101 Deb or 102 Lisa.
 

All Borough 2008 Real Estate Local Real Estate Taxes were mailed on February 1, 2008. For any Borough Real Estate Tax related questions, or if you did not receive your real estate tax bill, contact Davina Gallich, 211 Juniata Street, at 610-867-9656.
Bethlehem Area School District taxes are no longer being collected by the Borough Tax Collector. For any questions regarding school taxes you must contact the school district.

EIT (Earned Income Tax) forms are now available at the Borough Office.  All residents are required to file a form and, if applicable, pay a 1% tax on their income.   Although the forms are mailed to the City of Bethlehem, you must indicate on the form your municipality of residence is the Borough of Freemansburg, so that your tax dollars are properly allocated to the Borough.  Forms / taxes are due by April 15^th.

The Pennsylvania General Primaries will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 and the National General Election is Tuesday, November 4, 2008. For residents of Freemansburg, your polling place is Borough Hall, located at 600 Monroe Street. The polling places will be open 7 am to 8 pm prevailing time.

Membership in the Bethlehem Area Public Library is FREE to Freemansburg residents.  The Book Mobile stops at the Freemansburg Elementary School on Thursdays.  For Library hours and Book Mobile times, call 610-867-3761.

The schedule for 2008 is as follows:

 1^st quarter - invoice   Mar. 1, 2008

(Jan/Feb/Mar) - due    April 15, 2008

This first billing will allow a discount for the entire year if paid by April 1^st .

2^nd quarter - invoice   June 1, 2008

(Apr/May/Jun) - due     July 16, 2008

3^rd quarter - invoice  Sept. 1, 2008

(Jul/Aug/Sep)  - due  Oct. 16, 2008

4^th quarter - invoice  Dec.   1, 2008

(Oct/Nov/Dec) - due    Jan.  15, 2009

 Remember – your water bill is paid to the City of Bethlehem

•  If you have off street parking please use it during snow storms.  With fewer parked cars to work around, it is easier and safer for the workers.

•  Do not pile or throw snow into the street.  It is not only a hazard, it’s against the law!

•  The Borough Hall rear parking lot is available for temporary parking in the event of a storm.

•  When snow emergency is in effect, please restrict non-essential travel.

•  Snow is a time for fun for your children.  For their safety, please instruct them to stay clear of traffic and snow plows.

•  Borough ordinance #150-70 requires the removal of snow, ice and other obstructions or hazards from pedestrian walkways within 24 hours after the snow, ice, other obstruction or hazard has fallen, formed or appeared. This is for everyone’s safety, especially the children walking to and from school. 

Look for some major projects in Freemansburg in 2008!  The Borough received grants for the re-alignment of Main St, north of the Willow Grove Hotel, and a ‘Gateway’ park at the southerly entrance to the Borough near the Freemansburg Bridge.  Both of these projects are anticipated to go to bid in the spring for construction and completion in summer 2008.

      Permits are required for all building and zoning projects, as well as changes in occupancy, whether it be selling or renting a property.  Building permits include any structural, electrical, and/or plumbing improvements to your business or residence. 

        Zoning permits may also be required for certain decks, patios, retaining walls, fences, pools, and excavation projects.  It is best to check with the Borough offices if you are not sure if you need a permit – extension 101 Deb or 102 Lisa.  Building Code and occupancy inspections are now being performed by CodeMaster and Zoning services are supplied by Harte Engineering.

As a member of the Two Rivers Council of Governments (TRCOG), residents of the Borough can participate in the ‘e-cycling’ event listed below

SAVE YOUR UNWANTED ELECTRONICS FOR MAY 5^TH E-CYCLING EVENT

Two Rivers Council of Governments (TRCOG) will sponsor an electronics or “e-cycling” event on May 3, 2008, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  On this day, bring your unwanted electronic equipment to the Easton Area High School Athletic Complex off William Penn Highway in Palmer Township.  An e-cycling representative will take your equipment and a nominal fee for processing (e.g., $1.00 for a CPU, telephone, or fax machine) and you’re on your way. 

 By participating, you will be conserving natural resources and protecting the environment from significant amounts of heavy metals found in electronic equipment that are poisonous to human health and the environment.  If you have questions about this event or e-cycling in general, please visit www.palmertwp.com or contact Denise Veres at veresda@aol.com. 

What Can Be e-cycled                                                       What Not To e-Cycle

Computer Monitors, Hard drives                                     Electric equipment such as Toasters,

Keyboards, Printers, Software                                           Hair Dryers, Wall Clocks or Electric

Televisions, DVD players, VCRs                                      Razors   OR

Cell phones, Pagers, Digital equipment                           Construction demolition, Furniture,

Scanners, Fax machines, Modems                                  Appliances, White goods, or

Answering machines, Remote controls                           Household Hazardous Waste

Tape players, Telephones/equipment

Thermostats and Thermometers

Batteries (Alkaline), Stereos

Personal copiers

Special Thanks to Puritan Products, Inc. for their part in sponsoring this event.

REMEMBER:  When supplying your address for any reason, you must emphasize that you live in FREEMANSBURG 18017, not Bethlehem.