The Palmerton Borough Council approved a bid for the transfer station paving project at its meeting Thursday. The accepted bid went to Bruce George Paving and Excavating Co. in Kunkletown for about $64,774.

The council also voted to apply the same refuse increase on residential properties to the businesses that use the borough's refuse company Tamaqua Transfers. The increase is 9 percent. Danielson said most of the businesses in Palmerton have their own refuse contract, but a few use the borough's company.In a meeting in November, the council approved an increase of $2 per month. The proposed fee would be $72 per residential unit per quarter. Danielson pointed out that the fee is not per person, but per housing unit.Council member Kris Hoffner said Franklin Haas had applied for admission into the Palmerton Municipal Fire Co. He was most recently a firefighter with West End Fire Co. in Palmerton. The council approved his admittance into the fire department.In other business, council member Richard Nothstein gave a list of the people appointed to various boards and commissions in 2016. These include:• Planning Commission - William Gallagher• Municipal Authority - Jonathan Siller• Zoning Hearing Board - Gary Curran• Emergency Management Coordinator - Michael Kercsmar• Representative to Carbon County Tax Collection Committee - Donna McGarry• Hospital Authority - Thomas Vanderbeck• Council Vacancy Board - Karin Kasten• Civil Service Commission - Philip Binder• UCC Board of Appeals - George Beechay• Shade Tree Commission - William Stribany• Library Board Representative - Jack Woginrich• Alternate representative to Carbon County Tax Collection Committee - Rodger Danielson and Richard NothsteinSeveral committees are still in need of members. These include: two positions with the Board of Health, two positions on the Planning Commission, Shade Tree Commission, and a Zoning Hearing Board Alternate. Anyone interested in leading a committee is asked to submit a letter of interest to the borough council for review.