Nicole Tessitore, who has served as secretary/treasurer for Lansford borough during the past six years, last night was hired as treasurer and assistant secretary in Lehighton.

Earlier this month she announced her resignation in Lansford during a meeting of that borough council, but said she will offer assistance to her replacement. She said the reason for the resignation was to take a new position.The Lehighton council voted unanimously to hire her. She will start her new position on Monday, March 8.She succeeds Ann Wilhelm, who resigned in December after holding that position for about 10 years.After the meeting, Tessitore thanked the council for hiring her.The new treasurer is a graduate of Panther Valley High School and Kutztown University where she had obtained a bachelor's degree in public administration. She is currently pursuing her master's degree.Before working for Lansford borough, she had served two years as secretary and assistant treasurer for Rush Township.She is a Tamaqua resident.The council said that in the interim between Wilhelm's resignation and the hiring of Tessitore, the treasurer duties were handled by Kim Rubin, a borough office employee. They praised Rubin for her work and assistance.In other business, the council had a hearing on Community Development Block Grant funding.It was noted that the entire allocation of $93,881 for the current year will be used to repay a loan relevant to renovations at the borough annex. It was added that the allocations through 2012 also will be used to repay the loan.In an unrelated matter, Keith Schnell, a borough contractor and resident, appealed to the council for relief from a zoning permit fee. He said he is replacing a small porch - 5 feet wide and 24 feet long - at a residence, and the permit fee is $304.Borough manager John C. Wagner said he feels the borough is requiring permit fees not needed under the Uniform Construction Code. The council agreed to reduce the permit fee for Schnell to $25, noting it is just a replacement porch and doesn't involve any new construction.