Export notes: Borough plans for annual summer festival, awards contracts for downtown work

Export will host its annual Ethnic & Music Festival from noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 15 along Washington Avenue.

With health and safety at the forefront, Councilwoman Melanie Litz said festival officials have limited the number of booths.

“We have half as many vendors as last year, to try and avoid bottlenecks and crowding,” Litz said. “But I’m confident we can do it safely.”

The festival will include musical performances at a main stage near the Export Volunteer Fire Department, and a second stage near the Export Moose. It will also include a groundbreaking for the area where the borough’s war memorial will be relocated, as well as a flyover by two World War II-era planes to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.

Litz said a short detour through the borough parking lot will be available for residents who live above Washington Avenue, which will close in advance of the festival.

In other borough news:

• Council passed an ordinance that will require lateral pipeline testing in the future when borough property is sold. The ordinance was required as part of a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Protection addressing inflow, infiltration and other issues with the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority.

If an issue is identified with a private lateral pipeline, the seller is responsible for the cost of its repairs.

Council President Barry Delissio said council will need to schedule a workshop meeting to determine a fee schedule for the inspections. The consent order also mandates flow monitoring throughout the FTMSA system, to create a full picture of how it functions and where issues may be.

“I think we’re all going to have our eyes opened to some extent when this is over,” Delissio said.

A minimum of six months of flow monitoring must be completed at which point the results will be sent to the DEP.

• Council accepted a $2,550 bid to pave the walking path between Jigger’s Pub and 5845 Washington Ave. The path allows access from Washington Avenue to McKinley Avenue.

“We have to take care of it,” Councilman John Nagoda said. “It’s a potential hazard.”

• Delissio said milling work has been completed on McKinley Avenue, and the road paving work should be complete by Friday, Aug. 14, in advance of the annual Export Ethnic Food & Music Festival.

• Council awarded a $559 contract to RDK Asphalt Seal Coating to paint lines on the basketball court at the borough’s playground.