Lehighton Borough Council continued discussion Monday about the police department taking over the old Engine Company No. 2 building.

The discussion stemmed from council's decision at a special meeting Nov. 10 to have the police department take over the old Engine Company No. 2 bay, with work and the move to be done gradually.Councilman Scott Rehrig said it's going to be a slow process, adding that the majority of the work can be done in-house over a period of time.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said $15,000 is allocated in the 2017 budget for the work, which will begin in January.The police station will be taking the bay and the upstairs of the old Engine Company No. 2 building.The fire department will still have access to the hose and engine rooms, and will still occupy a space in the building.Rehrig suggested that Beckett check with the supervisor of the borough's Public Work's department to see if he'll have enough manpower to perform the work.Councilman Darryl Arner said, "This is all we can afford to do right now. We'd like to do more; it's just not financially feasible."Rehrig complimented the police department and fire department, noting that they are both excellent, and are viewed as equals.Rehrig said earlier this month that the police, fire and safety committee determined the police department is plagued by cramped offices, limited parking and an increase in crime, and needed more room to expand.The committee recommended taking the bay.But, Councilman Joe Flickinger recommended that council allocate for property to the north because it needs to be looking down the road 30 years.Rehrig said he was opposed to building a new station, and that not everything in the borough has to be brand-new.Police Chief Brian Biechy said the police department needs to use the full bay for its police vehicles, equipment and supplies.Flickinger made a motion for proper planning and expansion to the north for planning down the road, which would have meant the borough would have obtained the building north of the current station, which was rejected 4-3.Beckett said the property next to the police station is a home/apartment building.The borough has attempted to work with the property owner to have an appraisal completed on the property, an initial step in acquisition.Beckett said discussion with the property owner started in August 2015, but the appraisal has not been completed.As a result, Beckett said the borough would need to plan the relocation of the fire equipment and supplies, and determine phasing of the police station expansion.In May, about 30 members of the fire department attended the council meeting with concerns that the police department wants to use the entire bay.Biechy said the police department uses half the bay, which it shares with the fire department. The bay is used for parking.Michael Mriss, assistant fire chief, said the area is used to store apparatus, hose, wash and dry hose, complete equipment and apparatus maintenance and repair, store the inventory of Personal Protective Equipment among other things.Biechy said the police department continues to grow, but lacks the proper space to do so.The police department consists of 13 officers, 10 of which are full-time.There are three to four officers per every cubicle, and only three usable cubicles, as the fourth is used by detectives, Biechy said.He also said the parking lot is too small, as parking is limited for vehicles and staff; and the slopes cause safety hazards in bad weather.The police department moved into the former Lehighton Fire Company building at 124 S. Third St. in 2011.The building bears the name of former Lehighton Borough Mayor William "Cap" Bauchspies.