NUMEROUS ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING TAMAQUA BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING (June 16, 2015)

DELAYED POST: Numerous topics were discussed during Tamaqua Borough Council’s regular public meeting held Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the Tamaqua borough hall.
Like all meetings, residents were encouraged to attend and speak during the meeting.
Officials attending the meeting were Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison, Tamaqua Police Chief Rick Weaver, Fire Chief Tom Hartz, Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt, borough secretary Georgia Depos-DeWire, solicitor Michael Greek, Council President Micah Gursky, councilmen Dave Mace, Brian Connely, Dan Evans and Tom Cara. Not present were councilmen Justin Startzel and Kerry Lasky.
The public meetings are held every first and third Tuesday (or day after Tuesday election day) at 7 PM at the Borough Municipal Building, 320 East Broad Street. For more information or to confirm, call (570) 668-3444.
At the start of the meeting members of the 2015 Tamaqua Area District XI Varsity Track and Field Champions were recognized. (story)
– Borough secretary Georgia Depos-DeWire, read correspondence from the Tamaqua American Hose Company to close a section of Pine Street for their block party scheduled August 7 to 9, 2015. It was approved.
– DeWire read correspondence from Tamaqua Historical Society volunteer Linda Yulanavage requesting no parking at various points in Tamaqua during the June 21, 2015 Tamaqua Summerfest. It was approved.
– DeWire read correspondence from Tom Banditelli Sr., President, Owl Creek Recreation Committee, asking for the commission’s permission to acquire a 16 X 16 cabin with porch to be placed at the lower dam. It was approved.
– Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt mentioned that condemned property demolition work on Pitt Street and Gay Street is complete, with exception to sidewalk work.
– Steigerwalt said that borough residents might experience discolored water while crews perform hydrant maintenance and flushing. He also encourages residents to call to get their number added.
– Steigerwalt discussed upcoming improvements to the main Five Points intersection (US209 and SR309) in Tamaqua. Tamaqua Borough will pay about 60 percent and the railroad company will pay 40 percent. (story)
– Steigerwalt discussed upcoming paving and patch work on Spruce Street. Work is expected to start in July. (story)
– Steigerwalt talked about the Automated Red Light Enforcement Program and requested to apply for it. The $350,000 grant, if approved, would provide decorative poles and options related to redundant traffic. It was approved.
– Tom Cara, Chairperson, Finance, Wage & Salary Committee made a motion to retain Michael G. Wester Jr. as a full-time water treatment plant operator upon completion of his probation period. It was approved.
– Cara made a motion to retain Jordan D. Fegley as a full-time water distribution worker upon completion of his probation period. It was approved.
– Cara made a motion to hire part-time employees for general maintenance work. It was approved.
– Cara made a motion to set the starting wage for part-time maintenance workers at $8.00 per hour with a $0.25 per hour increase for each year of service and to adjust returning employees’ wages accordingly. It was approved.
– David Mace, Chairperson, Recreation & Youth Committee, made a motion to hire part-time lifeguards for the 2015 pool season pending completion of their lifeguard certification.
– Mace made a motion to approve an Authorized Provider Agreement with the American Red Cross for lifeguard training at the pool. It was approved.
– Mace made a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for funding for Greenway, Trails and Recreation Program Grant via the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission (ESRC). If granted, funds would be used for the Tamaqua Bungalow Bath House Project, which is put on hold due to lack of funding. It was approved.
– Tamaqua Fire Chief Tom Hartz discussed the idea to stop blowing the bull siren during incidents and only use pagers, stating that 911 operator might make a mistake. It was floored. (watch video below)
– Councilmen Brian Connely made a motion to hire Rachael Lanor as a part time police officer in Tamaqua. It was approved.
– Micah Gursky, Tamaqua Borough Council, discussed the CRIZ program. Deadline for requires business owners to submit their “Reporting Form” was June 15, 2015. He encourages them to call the borough at 570-668-3444 for more information.
– Gursky made a motion to use Tamaqua Fire Police, firefighters and police for the “Dear Tamaqua… In A New Light” project on August 4, 2015. It was approved.