The Borough of Tamaqua will receive $106,254 for its 2015 Community Development Block Grant allocation. This is just slightly less than the $106,521 received last year.

Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt broke down exactly how the money will be spent, including $19,125 for administrative costs, $26,138 for property demolition, $35,991 for street reconstruction, and $25,000 for accessibility improvements to the municipal building.The borough currently has nine properties on its demolition list.Steigerwalt is hoping to be able to use the CDBG funding to take down at least one of them. The street improvement proposal includes sections of Swatara Street, between Broad and Rowe and Lafayette and Jerome; a section of Jerome Street, between Pitt and Swatara; a section of Pitt Street, from Jerome to Yetten Circle; sections of Nescopec, between West Elm and Jerome and Jerome and Clay; and a section of Clay Street, from Nescopec to West.In other business, council received notification from Borough Secretary/Treasurer Georgia Depos DeWire regarding the borough's minimal municipal obligations (MMO) for various pension funds.The police pension fund MMO is $263,208, for nonuniformed employees, $33,828, and for the nonuniformed defined contribution component plan, $22,000. Depos DeWire's letter explained the total obligation comes to $319,036. "We will require state aid and/or borough contributions in 2016 to meet the funding requirements for any or all pension plans," she said. The borough is still waiting to hear what amount of State aid may be available. Last year, the borough received $178,143.28.Council received communication from Andrew Leibenguth and the Tamaqua Volunteers group requesting the go-ahead to raise funds to purchase solar light sets to place on the 54 sidewalk trees in the downtown."Due to the limitations of solar technology, these lights won't be very bright, but will still give a beautiful glow for pedestrians," Leibenguth said. The estimated cost for a 400 LED light set is $41 and for a 500 LED light set is $52. The total amount Leibenguth hopes to raise is $2,200. Council approved the request.Council approved the American Legion's annual Veterans Day Parade for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.Council approved the advertisement of the sale of two 1991 Dodge pickup trucks, two 1997 International dump trucks, a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck, a 1983 Ingersoll Rand D30 asphalt roller, and a 1985 Ford L800 Camel sewer flushing machine, with a minimum bid set at $6,000.Councilman David Mace announced that Tamaqua has received a five gold medal status from the National League of Cities, "Let's Move! Cities, Towns, & Counties" initiative.Tamaqua is one of only three communities in Pennsylvania and one of 52 communities in the country to receive the highest rating possible.Communities are rated on early childhood programs promoting fitness, various promotions of healthy eating and food provisions and fitness opportunities."This is a real feather in the cap for Tamaqua," said Council President Micah Gursky.Based on the recommendations from HARC, council approved certificates of appropriateness for two signs and a ramp at 28 S. Railroad St. and a rear deck conversion at 517 Arlington St. Council tabled a request to appoint Bill Harlem to the Historic and Architectural Review Commission.A discussion was held about handicap accessibility at downtown businesses.Resident Debra Althouse asked if a new business, such as the recently opened restaurant The Dog Haus, are required to be handicap accessible.Gursky said existing businesses are required to provide reasonable access, however, many of the buildings in the downtown were constructed before the ADA and may have difficulty complying."Certainly, for new construction, it would be required," he said.