Lehighton hopes the placement of stop signs will help curtail speeding and improve safety along a busy stretch of road.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Monday agreed to adopt an ordinance to place stop signs at Fifth and Coal streets. Councilman Darryl Arner was absent.Councilman Joe Flickinger said the stop signs are warranted at the intersection, where he said many people have complained about speeding.Specifically, Flickinger said motorists have been driving at a high rate of speed from Fourth Street to Sixth Street, an area where many children live.However, Councilman Scott Rehrig, who participated in the meeting via video conference, noted that stop signs cannot be placed there solely to regulate speed.Mayor Tom Mace said both he and the borough police chief believe stop signs need to be put up for safety purposes.