Lehighton Borough Council is wondering whether it should extend its municipal garbage collection contract for another year with Interstate Waste Management of Macungie or advertise for bids for a new contract in 2013.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said a three-year contract with Interstate Waste is expiring and the borough has the option of automatically renewing the agreement for another year. There would be a two percent increase in 2013, which totals $9,907.Councilman Darryl Arner said he is "real satisfied" with the garbage collection offered by Interstate Waste, noting it is better than services provided to the borough by other firms in the past.He added, "But we also must consider the cost."Beckett said she will contact other municipalities who are renewing garbage contracts and obtain information on whether such rates are increasing or decreasing. She is hoping that such information will help the council to make a decision.The council said it has until Sept. 1 to make a decision, so it tabled the matter until its Aug. 27 meeting.In other business:• Beckett was appointed the borough's voting delegate on the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee. Councilman John Bird was named the alternate delegate.• Beckett also informed the council that weekly farmers' markets are being held each Saturday along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard (Route 209). She said the first was held last Saturday and it was deemed to be a success.• The work continues on renovating a judging stand that was salvaged from the former Carbon County Fair in Lehighton. Beckett said the roof work has been completed on the stand, which is situated at the Lehighton Community Grove.• Borough resident Rodney Snyder pressed the council to adopt an ordinance prohibiting jake brakes on trucks that drive on Route 443. Snyder resides on the Heights section of the community, overlooking Route 443.Attorney James Nanovic, the borough solicitor, said the council would need approval from PennDOT before such an ordinance could be approved.At the urging of councilman John Bird, Nanovic was directed to check with PennDOT regarding the matter."There's nothing wrong with asking," Bird said.