Lehighton has opted to use its allotment of this year's Community Development Block Grant funds on a reconstruction/paving project.

On a unanimous vote, borough council on Monday agreed to use its portion of CDBG funds to pave Stedman Avenue from Second to Third Avenue, along with ADA ramps.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said the estimated cost for the work is $90,000.She said the borough's 2014 allotment of CDBG funds is $90,704. Of that, the borough will receive $76,868 for the project, while the other $13,836 goes to Carbon County for administrative costs.Beckett said the borough had budgeted $100,000 in liquid fuels for the entire Stedman Avenue project, which includes paving and ramps.But since the CDBG funds are $76,868, the borough would need funds allocated from borough funds.Previously, the borough had planned to use its allotment of CDBG funding toward the repayment of the annex building loan.MultimodalTransportation Fund grant contractAlso on Monday, council approved the Department of Community & Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund grant contract.Beckett said the $245,000 grant, with a $105,000 cash match from the borough, is in the total amount of $350,000.The grant is to make pedestrian improvements to the Colonel Jacob Weiss Park.Councilman Scott Rehrig said he believes the top priority should be to fix several roads in the borough."I think we should take $100,000 and put it into the streets," Rehrig said. "That's where we're deficient."The borough also previously received $250,000 from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for upper borough park improvements, of which the required match is $37,500.Beckett previously said the borough is awaiting several other potential grant awards.Demolitionof propertyUnder her report, Beckett discussed the property at 209 N. First St.Beckett said an assessment recommended that the residence be demolished.Citations have been filed on the property, and the borough will proceed through the necessary channels for demolition, she said.Sgt. Stanley Hoffman BoulevardimprovementsAdditionally, Beckett noted under her report that the estimate for the potential reconstruction of Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard is $258,000.Beckett said council will review the estimate and determine how it wants to fund the project.