Lehighton has been asked to make a reimbursement one month after it voted to give the garage bay area of the old Engine Company No. 2 building to its police department.

A letter sent by Robert Rehnert, Lehighton Fireman’s Relief Association, that was addressed to borough council, was read at Monday’s council meeting.The letter states that the Fireman’s Relief is concerned with two Airmation Air Cleaners that are currently in the garage bay that are owned by Fireman’s Relief and were purchased with state funds.“After contacting the State Auditor General’s Office, they said that the borough must reimburse the relief association and have them taken off our inventory list,” the letter states. “So, we do not have any discrepancies for our next audit, which could result in less state funding.”As a result, Rehnert said the fireman’s relief is asking that the borough purchase the two units at the cost of $3,763 each, for a total cost of $7,526.“Thank you for your cooperation in the above matter,” the letter states. “Please forward a check as soon as possible to the Lehighton Fireman’s Relief Association.”After some discussion on the matter, council agreed to table the request until next meeting.At a special meeting Nov. 10, council agreed to have the police department take over the old Engine Company No. 2 bay, with work and the move to be done gradually.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.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.Police Chief Brian 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 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.