Coaldale Borough Council has discussed beefing up its code enforcement efforts by collaborating with other boroughs.

The issue was raised at a recent town meeting, and again at Tuesday's council meeting.The borough currently only has a code enforcement officer on duty part time during the week.But the volume of calls, and some complaints from residents, have members considering ways to improve enforcement of borough codes, which apply primarily to property maintenance.Mike O'Hara works 20 hours for the borough as a second job, council President Thomas Keerans said.Some have suggested that full-time coverage is necessary."It's a very thankless job," said Keerans. "People think that you just sit at a desk and do paperwork. There is a lot of aggravation."At the recent town meeting, someone made the suggestion that they look at collaborating with other nearby municipalities, councilman Francis Hutta said. Council agreed to contact boroughs like Lansford, Summit Hill and Tamaqua to see if they would be interested in the joint venture."We should sit down with some other boroughs near us and see what happens," he said.Tuesday's discussion began after two residents of Greenwood Street expressed frustration with the code enforcement department. Susan Asbury said she has tried to get something done about a feral cat problem on Greenwood Street for more than a month.Her neighbor, Kevin Barlett, found provisions in the borough code regarding animal waste and letting animals run free. The law goes onto state that anyone who allows such violations to occur can be fined $300 per day. Barlett said he interpreted that to mean that the code enforcement officer should be fined.Hutta said that an improved code enforcement department could help clean up some nuisance properties."This issue with the cats, all that could be taken care of," he said. "The word would get out that they're cracking down."Council also voted to approve the repaving of Ruddle Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.Only one firm bid on the project. It is expected to cost $39,457, and will be a one-day projectThe borough has set its yard sale days for Oct. 3-4. Yard sales will be permitted between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The following Monday, Oct. 5, will be the borough's semiannual cleanup day.