Tamaqua Borough Council had a busy night on Tuesday, approving many motions and discussing a variety of topics.

Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt reviewed the heating oil bids that were received by the borough. The annual heating oil bid was awarded to Fegley Oil of Tamaqua. The fixed price is $1.85 per gallon, and the floating price is $0.12 per gallon. Steigerwalt was impressed with the low price."The average price per gallons last year was $2.18, and $3.34 the previous year," Steigerwalt said. He recommended that council approve the fixed price.Steigerwalt said the borough's new insurance premiums took effect on Oct. 1, noting the new premiums are about $1,500 less than last year, largely due to the borough's workers' compensation policy.The borough's water authority approved a new agreement with Exelon, formerly PECO, which operates the Limerick Power Plant. Excelon needs to draw water from the Schuylkill River, and they have an agreement with Tamaqua to release water from their reservoir to offset the withdrawal. The annual agreement was raised from $75,000 annually to $80,000. The agreement runs until 2024.Steigerwalt advised council that he has started work on the 2016 budget.Council approved two agreements with the North Central Highway Safety Network Inc. for two different grants, including a Buckle Up PA Project grant and an Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project grant. The borough voted to send Lynn E. York a conditional offer of employment for a part-time police officer position and hired Bryce Lewis as a part-time police officer.The borough hired Bernard S. Kupetz as a full-time wastewater treatment plant maintenance worker at a pay rate of $18.77 per hour. They also hired Timothy M. Ziegler as a full-time utility billing clerk at a rate of $13.91 per hour.David Mace, chairman of the recreation and youth committee, advised council that ESRC director John Mirarchi intends to resign, due to accepting another job in Dallas, Texas.Councilman Brian Connely requested the reimbursement of $25 to Cub Scout Troop 777 that was paid for temporary signage. Connely said the signs were recruitment posters, similar to those displayed by political candidates. Council approved the reimbursement.Council President Micah Gursky said that 60 percent of the 198 businesses in the CRIZ zone filed the required report with the state, which sets the CRIZ baseline at approximately $2 million. He said the difference between next year's reported income from the state taxes will be the amount that comes back to the borough."It's a 30-year program and now we have a baseline," he said. He also warned the businesses that did not file the report that they can be fined if they do not file the report next year.Council approved a "hidden driveway" sign for placement at 100 Hunter St.Gursky also advised that the borough is requesting that FEMA review the flood plain map for the Tamaqua area. According to Gursky, this has not been reviewed since the 1970s.