The borough of Tamaqua will soon have a new website up and running. Council approved a package to develop the website and continue maintenance of it on a monthly basis by Bobby O'Gurek Web Design and Services, in the amount of $600, including a monthly maintenance fee.

Councilman David Mace said that O'Gurek has developed websites for several neighboring communities and expects that the borough will be very satisfied with his work. The borough's recent project to update the codification of their ordinances will be one of the items that will be linked to the website. They are also hoping to add online utility payment options in the future.The borough received two notices of pending repository sales, one for a property at 241 Lafayette St., which they denied, and one for a property at 20 E. Spruce St., which they approved.The borough received an estimate from Service Electric for a change in the borough's Internet and phone provider. Based on the initial estimate, the borough could save $28,893.96 over the course of a 3-year contract, $38,525.28 over the course of a 4-year contract, and $48,156.60 over the course of a 5-year contract. According to borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt, there are still a few pending details to be ironed out before the proposal is ready for a vote.Council approved a request from the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce to close East Broad Street in the area of the ABC Tamaqua Hi-Rise for the 18th annual New Year's Eve celebration and ball drop.Council approved a request from Ricky Johnson to close a block of Cottage Avenue, including the property at 248 Cottage Ave., for a public auction beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and continuing until the close of the auction.At the request of the Board of Health, Judith Hadesty, RN, was reappointed as health officer, and Christine Zizelmann was reappointed to a 5-year term. Based on a recommendation from Recreation and Youth Committee chair David Mace, the borough accepted two grant proposals from the Morgan Foundation, one in the amount of $60,000 for the annual operation of the Bungalow Pool, and one in the amount of $10,000 for expenses related to the East End Park.Council voted to advertise an intergovernmental ordinance between Tamaqua and Lansford for Lansford to use Tamaqua's board of appeals on the uniform construction code.Council will hold its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 4. They also held an executive session to discuss real estate matters.