Tamaqua's nonuniformed employees have a new contract. The contract, which will become retroactive to January 1, 2010, will run through December 31, 2013. According to finance, wage, and salary chairperson Tom Cara, the major changes to the contract include incremental pay raises of 1percent in 2010, 3 percent in 2011, 4 percent in 2012, and 4.5 percent in 2013. The contract also includes the addition of Christmas Eve as a holiday and added an additional week of vacation after 25 years of service, bringing the total to 25 days of vacation for those employees.

Council also approved a motion to advertise for bids to rehabilitate the property at 223 Pine Street. The borough acquired the property through a judicial sale in April for approximately $16,000. The property has been reviewed by a realtor and by the borough's housing rehabilitation officer, and a punch list of items has been created that need to be addressed to bring the property up to code and make it habitable."It's been vacant for about five years. The other bidders were bidding on it to use it as a rental property. The borough didn't want to see it become a rental property," said council president Micah Gursky. "For what we've acquired it for and what we are going to put into it, it could be a nice home for someone." Although the initial motion included a cap of $30,000, several council members disagreed about spending that much on the property. "Thirty thousand is excessive," said Councilman Ken Smulligan. "We're not trying to turn it into a Taj Mahal. We're just trying to make it liveable." Council eventually decided to use the punch list to ask for bids for the proposed repairs. "I think there is enough listed there to develop a scope of work and a bid package," said Gursky.Council discussed the proposed parking lot that was to have been placed at the corner of Hunter and Spruce Streets. The lot was part of the South Ward Neighborhood plan; however, anticipated funding for the project fell through. Council discussed negotiating and drafting a lease agreement with the owner of Pieracini's Market, which would include construction and maintenance of the property as a parking lot, including the installation of lighting, signage, sidewalks and landscaping. Councilman Steve Tertel asked if the proposed lease had been discussed with the neighbors in the area. "I know this person has a business up there and I have nothing against that, there's just too many unanswered questions for me," he said.Gursky explained that this proposal was in the preliminary stages. "The intention was always to build a parking lot there," he said. "The committee met last week about how to build the lot with no money and how to provide additional parking in the neighborhood. We don't have the money to do this project and we thought this was a way to move it forward." "It's quite possible that we might not be able to come to terms," he said.Resident Andrew Miller asked if the borough had considered selling spaces in the lot to residents. "If it's going to cost $10,000, see if the people on the street would pay for it," he said. Miller proposed that a person be able to buy their own lot and pay the borough for it. Individuals would also be responsible for the upkeep of the spaces.Council discussed the possible vacation of a section of Rock Alley. The borough does not receive liquid fuel money for the section of road and as such, it has not been well maintained over the year. Borough solicitor Michael Greek will look into proceeding with that recommendation.Council approved a handicap parking space for 21 Market St. They hired Deanna DeWire as a lifeguard for the Bungalow Pool.Council approved a trail easement agreement with

J.J.J.T Family Limited Partnership, also known as Boyer's Food Markets, Inc., for the proposed Little Schuylkill River Walk Project, which will start at the Cedar Street Bridge and continue past Boyer's and Willing Park to the Tamaqua Community Center.Mayor Christian Morrison brought up the recent fish kill in the Little Schuylkill River, particularly the wildcat sewers that are known to exist along the Wabash Creek. He asked for a status update on the proposed dye testing. Gursky said that the borough has been working with DEP to pinpoint the cause of the kill, the origin of which has been traced to the Wabash, although the exact cause is still undetermined.Morrison reminded residents that the Crime Watch program has been up and running for a few weeks and the organization is still looking for more volunteers. "It's been taking off and change is already starting to happen in some areas," he said. "It's a positive tool for our community."Council also met in executive session to discuss personnel matters.