A newly-formed organization in Palmerton will brainstorm ideas for new Christmas decorations, as well as for lighting around the borough park.

To that end, the Palmerton Street Lighting Committee, comprised of about 15 members, will hold its inaugural meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the borough hall.Marge Federanich, a member of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce, said the committee consists of merchants, businesses, borough council, Palmerton Community Festival, and interested citizens.The purpose of the meeting, Federanich said, "is to finally kick off the fundraising, and about getting ideas.""It's a preliminary meeting to discuss what it would cost, what kind of lighting; just discuss where we want to go with this, how elaborate do we want to get," Federanich said. "It's just to figure out how we would do fundraising, and for everybody to come in with their ideas to try to come with a common denominator, be on the same page, to beautify our town."Federanich added "the response has been tremendous.""They jumped at the opportunity," She said. "The response has been overwhelming."At a chamber luncheon last month, chamber member Joe Federanich said the borough would like to have new Christmas decorations throughout its downtown by 2014.Federanich said the town committee was formed to pick the decorations, and help raise money to afford them. The committee will seek assistance from businesses, organizations, and the community at large, he said.The Carbon County Chamber of Commerce has earmarked about $1,000 that was raised from last year's Palmerton Community Festival, Federanich previously said.Peter Kern, chamber president, noted at last month's chamber luncheon that the original decorations were put up in the 1990s, and refurbished about 10 years ago.It was also discussed at last month's chamber function the need for new lights that may be placed around the borough park. Susan Choy, Palmerton Concourse Club member, and co-chair of the organization's Christmas House Tour, said this year's tour resulted in a profit of $1,800 that could be applied.In all, Kern said about 65 decorations would have to be replaced at a cost of about $250 apiece, which would come to over $16,000. An additional $3,000 to $4,000 would be needed for lighting around the park, Kern said.