Lehighton borough officials are doing their part to help ease the financial hardship experienced by businesses throughout the bridge reconstruction project.

On a 5-0 vote on Monday, borough council agreed to waive penalties on utility bills for the third quarter, which is the term of the detour. Councilmen Scott Rehrig and John Kreitz were absent.About 20 businesses will have their penalties on utility bills waived, according to borough Manager Nicole Beckett.In the meantime, Beckett said borough officials urge patrons to frequent businesses along the busy corridor that have been adversely affected by the reconstruction of the structurally deficient Route 209 Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge.Beckett noted that business owners have said that sales are down, and some had to cut back on hours.