Tamaqua Borough Council on Tuesday night received three applications for a vacant spot on the civil service board and one request for the citizens advisory council openings.

Applicants for the civil service commission were Janine Holter, Charles Rodgers and Howard Miller. Jacqueline Chaney is interested in the CAC. All of the applications were referred to the public safety committee for review.Council accepted a letter of resignation from Michelle Barron, a Utility Clerk I in the water department. Barron submitted her letter of resignation, effective Nov. 20. Councilman Dan Evans was the lone negative vote. Councilman Tom Cara noted Barron was "a good worker," while Councilman Dave Mace said, "She will be missed."Councilwoman Kerry Lasky immediately asked for an executive session at the end of regular business to discuss personnel matters.Following the almost 30-minute executive session, Lasky made a motion to advertise to fill Barron's position. Evans again was the lone negative vote. (Council members Brian Conelly and Justin Startzel were absent).When that was approved, a motion was made to permit Steigerwalt to contact a temp agency for clerical workers. Lasky cast a negative vote.When asked why the borough would need temporary workers at this time, Council President Micah Gursky said, "This is something Kevin (Steigerwalt) has been asking us for quite some time. With Christine (secretary Christine Zamudio) off this week on vacation, the timing is right. Kevin and Rob (Jones) have been fielding the phone calls usually handled by Christine. It's been very disruptive."At that, borough secretary Georgia Depos Dewire gave Gursky a gentle nudge, reminding him that she and the clerks in the water department have also had to answer the phone on numerous occasions."It's been a bad week," admitted Gursky, "and it's only Tuesday."