Lehighton Borough Council on Monday agreed, at the request of the borough fire department, to authorize an environmental impact study to keep plans for expanding the fire station moving along.

The fire company will pay the $12,000 cost of the study.Fire Chief Jack Kuller was attending another meeting and was unable to be at the public council meeting.The $3.5 million expansion calls for razing three houses and building additional bays to connect the Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 building to the Engine Co. No. 2 building on South Third Street. The fire department has purchased the houses.The environmental study would be done by H2M, which has offices in New York and New Jersey.A zoning hearing on the matter - the fire company needs an exceptional use permit - is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 28.The fire department is awaiting a $1.5 million grant, through former state Rep./House Speaker Keith McCall, to help pay for the project. McCall retired in December.Council has agreed to match the grant and to hire an architect to perform preliminary work.In other matters Monday, council:• Agreed to allow East Side Avenue residents to pay a $4,000 tap-in fee for new sewer hookups over two years if they cannot pay the full cost at once.• Listened as Mayor Donald Rehrig issued a proclamation marking April 29 as Arbor Day. The Lehighton Area Middle school will hold a ceremony between 8-8:30 a.m. that day in its environmental center.• Agreed to allow borough workers to help cut down maple trees to allow a resident at 89 Stedman Ave. to repair his sidewalk and curbing.• Agreed to provide permits free of charge for residents doing required curbing work.