Lansford Borough Council approved the following:

• Trick or Treat night in the borough as Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The borough secretaries, dressed as peanut butter and jelly, will be handing out candy at their own cost at the borough building to give back to the community.

• A payoff of the sewage transmission loan No. 3591, which was $16,846.91 as of Aug. 19. The move will decrease the per diem interest and the current loan payment.

• Placing $31,250 from the borough’s second Railroad Fund account into a CD for nine months at 5% interest at the Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank.

• Water shut-offs for 155 residences for nonpayment of the sewage transmission fee. The borough had 217 accounts for nonpayment, but some were brought current.

• Advertising for heating oil bids.

• Advertising for bids on a new garbage contract. The contract with Tamaqua Transfer ends in April 2025. Council members want to review the current contract and hope to include options for cleanups and electronics recycling.

• Scheduling a meeting with a representative from Sustainable PA to discuss applying for certification. Markovich said the certification could better position the borough for grant funding.

• The repair of the borough’s new street sweeper at an estimated cost of $10,730.37, which does not include the cost of shipping parts. US Municipal Services will do the work, which will include maintenance items.

• Revisions to the borough’s ordinances to allow for vehicles to be towed for snow removal, when ticketed but not moved and with expired inspection stickers. The borough solicitor will make changes, which will come back to council for approval.

• Tabled increasing code enforcement officer Shane Monk’s hours to 37 a week or full-time status.

• Approved advertising for alternate members for the borough’s zoning hearing board, International Property Maintenance Code appeals board, and civil service commission.

• Approved the review of the borough’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan for possible updates, in lieu of appointing a planning commission.

Markovich said that he wasn’t in favor of a borough planning commission, which is only an advisory board that comes at an additional cost to the borough and duplicates county planning review.

• Tabled placing the Zimmerman building up for bids to be sold, as the borough is awaiting a survey on the property.

• Tabled advertising for bids to renovate the former Silberline office building as a police station. The borough will get a cost on preparing bid specifications from its engineer.

The borough is considering the renovation, and may also consider a new building, which could take up to four years to site, plan, fund and build.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek said four years is too long, as the borough officers need better accommodates now. Police Chief Kyle Woodward suggested officers work out of a police station in a neighboring community, possibly with the borough renting space in another community.

• Approved allowing Councilman Joseph Butrie to remove the radio, light bar and emergency lights from the 2014 Ford police vehicle.

• Tabled looking for grant writers. Councilwoman Jennifer Staines suggested the move to help Markovich, who has been doing the borough’s grant writing. She believed they could get a college student to volunteer to do the work.

• Discussed handicapped accessible doors for the borough building, and planned to contact door companies to review options that may work given the size and opening available.

• Approved the 2025 minimum municipal obligation for the police pension plan in the amount of $36,991.12.