Lehighton is in discussion about ownership of an alley in the borough.

On a 6-1 vote, borough council last week agreed to remove the matter of the ownership of Temple Alley from the agenda until adjoining property owners take responsibility and show ownership to the borough.Councilwoman Helen Torok, who cast the sole vote against the measure, said she believes the situation needs to be resolved."I'm saying that it needs to be looked at," Torok said. "You can't just ignore these things."After the meeting, borough Manager Nicole Beckett said the alley is neither owned, nor maintained, by the borough.Council had been approached by a resident of the alley, Bruce Morrison, who requested that the borough maintain the alley.But to do so, Beckett said all property owners of the alley would need to petition the borough.At this point, the petition has not been received, nor have all the property owners been identified, she said.Beckett said that since the alley may be owned by multiple property owners, each owner would need to support the borough ordaining the alley.Council agreed to have Beckett contact River Blue, which would like to purchase a 27-by-50 piece of land that is located by the dialysis center on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, for an official plan of their intentions for the lot.Councilwoman Lisa Perry said she was in favor of River Blue buying the property."If they're going to improve the way it looks, I would say 'why not let them.' "Beckett said the land is the former location of a sewer pump station that the borough had demolished more than five years ago.