At the July 5th meeting of the Bally Borough Council, officials discussed a problem with property owners who have not responded to letters from the borough concerning water meter replacement.  The borough wants to change water meters on properties where the meters' batteries have died.

            Several letters have been sent to notify property owners of the change to no avail.

            The council agreed to attempt another contact with those property owners who have not replied.  Then, the borough will tape notices on the unresponsive properties' doors.  If there is still no response, the borough has the right to charge a $50 meter refusal fee.

            The bins in the borough park are overflowing with discarded newspapers.  The company that is supposed to retrieve the papers was sold.  The new company, Metro Waste, was given 45 days by the borough to remove the newspapers.  Once the newspapers are removed, the borough will no longer collect newspapers at the site.

            The borough council agreed to renew its employee health insurance plan with High Mark Blue Shield.  The plan includes health, dental, and eye insurance.  Council President Glenn Mutter abstained from the vote.

            In other news, the borough council agreed to purchase a diesel transfer for its truck so the borough maintenance crew will not need to use cans to carry diesel fuel for the borough's equipment.  It is a way to have diesel fuel on hand, especially in the winter, to service the borough's backhoe and skid loader.

            The intergovernmental sewer agreement between Bally and Washington Township is still being negotiated.

            There will be a "Doggie Swim" at the borough pool in early September.  The date has not been decided.

            The Eastern Berks Fire Company will hold a chicken barbecue on August 28th at the Bally Fire Station from 2 p.m. until it sells out.  The annual fund drive received contributions from only 20 percent of area residents who the all-volunteer fire company serves.

            Bally Borough Council's regular meeting is held on the 1st Tuesday of the month.  However, due to the federal Fourth of July holiday, the borough council meeting was advertised and moved to Wednesday, July 5th.