Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday reappointed a longtime Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority board member to another five-year term in office.

Council appointed Toby Krajcirik by a 5-1 vote, with one member absent.Krajcirik's appointment was seamless: His last term was up at the end of December.Other applicants were Donna Valent; Larry Williams; Leonard Sniscak; John Racko; Robert Hackash; John Stanko Jr.; Robert Benek; and Joe Horvat.Vadyak nominated Sniscak for the post, but his motion died for lack of support. Councilman Lenny Kovatch then nominated Krajcirik. With Councilwoman Danielle Smith absent and Vadyak opposed, council members Andrew Snyder, Samantha Yasson, Mary Soberick, Kovatch and President Rose Mary Cannon voted for Krajcirik.Vadyak was vehement in his opposition to Krajcirik. He said Sniscak promised to perform the duties for $100 a month, and forego medical and pension benefits.Vadyak has long battled against salary and benefit packages given to water authority board members, taking his war to state-level agencies.The water authority officers are appointed by the borough councils, two from Coaldale and three from Lansford. Vadyak said boroughs many years ago set compensation at $25 a month or $300 a year.According to water authority records, the board chairman in 2009 earned $15,000 a year; the vice chairman/superintendent $47,000; the treasurer $8,000; the secretary $8,000 and the assistant secretary/treasurer $6,800.In addition, the chairman receives a $2,250 annual stipend; the vice chairman, treasurer, secretary and assistant secretary-treasurer each receive an annual $2,150 stipend.Hourly employee wages range from $13.50 to $16.21 an hour. All employees, including the officers, are eligible for medical benefitsIn June, the possibility of selling the water authority died after Coaldale Council agreed to drop plans to meet with representatives of Aqua Pennsylvania of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, a subsidiary of Aqua America Inc.In other matters, council listened to Carbon County Programs Coordinator Jim Martino of the Office of Planning and Development describe tentative plans to repair a 250-foot section of Bertsch Street, between Walnut and Chestnut streets. The project would use the remaining $75,000 Lansford has in 2013 Community Development Block Grant money.Also, council will seek bids on a property at 201 W. Bertsch St. The minimum bid is set at $15,000.In a related matter, Kovatch asked that council ask the county to maintain that and other properties in the repository category for tax sale. Council agreed.