Palmerton may have to spend up to $50,000 for replacement screening for its wastewater treatment plant.

On a 6-0 vote on Thursday, council agreed to set 2 p.m. Nov. 10 as the bid opening date for wastewater treatment plant screening. Councilman Jason Behler was absent.Borough Manager Rodger Danielson said the screening is essential to ensure the treatment plant can continue to operate at full efficiency."It's really integral in our operation," Danielson said. "Especially with the new system we have now."Otherwise, Danielson said it would take six to eight weeks to get a replacement screening on order, which he said would not be conducive to the treatment plant's operation.After the meeting, Danielson said the screening is located at the entrance to the plant and serves to reduce solids to a more liquid state. It's used to grind materials so they don't get in and clog pumps.Danielson said the current screening, which has been in for about five years, is in and working fine. However, it was not part of the new replacement plan."With this plant, it's essential to have this screening going on," he said.Also on Thursday, Danielson said the borough's chipper station is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.Eventually, it will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, once a camera system is working reliably, he said.In addition, Danielson said the borough has purchased recycling bins.He said they are somewhat bigger than the ones in the past.Yard sale signsMayor Chris Olivia told council he's received several phone calls about all the yard sales that have been going on in the borough.Olivia said it's been brought to his attention that people are posting signs on telephone poles and the like, but are not taking them down when their sales are over.He recommended that individuals remove their signs, or if not, the borough will send someone out, which would result in a cost for the individuals.Council President Terry Costenbader said yard sale signs have also been posted on top of reflective signs on the bridge abutment, which he said could be a safety hazard.Borough businessIn other business, council:• Offered employment to Blaise Lyons to serve as a leaf collection worker at a rate of $7.25 an hour.• Granted the Palmerton Halloween Parade permission to hold its annual event from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 19.• Announced that Trick-or-Treat will be held in the borough from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29.