Palmerton will decide by next month if it will allow 24-hour parking around the perimeter of its park.

To that end, borough council agreed on a 6-0 vote Thursday to advertise two ordinances related to parking along the park. Council President Terry Costenbader was absent.Borough manager Rodger Danielson said that two ordinances have been drafted: One, which would allow for parking around the entire perimeter of the park, and the other, which would allow parking only from Delaware to Franklin Avenue.As part of the discussion, Councilman Richard Nothstein opined, "I'm not sure why we need to open up 19 spots to accommodate five or six people."In response to Nothstein's concern, Mayor Chris Olivia said "this settles it (the situation) forever."Council agreed it will take action on the matter when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.The matter has been a regular topic of discussion at council meetings for the past several months.In June, council said it might consider an alteration to an ordinance that would allow for 24-hour parking around the perimeter of the park, and agreed to have the matter sent to the borough's public safety committee for review.Olivia stated at that time that there were five residents from the Palmer House along Delaware Avenue who have vehicles, but nowhere to park them because the facility only has so much space.He then recommended at that time for council to consider a change to a borough ordinance that would allow people to park their vehicles on the east side of the park, from Delaware Avenue to Franklin Avenue, where 19 parking spaces are available.At present, parking is restricted there from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Danielson said.Olivia said that if the borough were to open up those parking spots, the seniors wouldn't have to move their vehicles, and could keep them parked there.In other business, council:• Denied a handicapped parking request for Joseph Rodrigues at 636 Mauch Chunk Road.• Denied a handicapped parking request for Clarence Leinhard at 766 Franklin Ave.• Approved a park request use for the Relay For Life fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13.• Approved a park request use for the Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee to hold Christmas in the Park from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.• Approved the CROP Walk request at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.