Lehighton continues to make progress in its quest to help combat blight.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council recently agreed to advertise an ordinance implementing the Pennsylvania Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said the ordinance enacts Act 90 of 2010, which gives municipalities additional tools to address owners of properties who are not in compliance with the property maintenance codes.Beckett said municipalities may deny permits to any property owner who has tax/utility delinquencies or serious code violations."We are able to place liens against all properties owned by an individual or entity anywhere in the commonwealth," Beckett said. "Act 90 allows the municipality to encumber all of the property they may own in Pennsylvania, including their personal residence."The borough previously hired the Gulotta Group to provide technical assistance concerning blight within the community.Council had approved a $500 fee to provide general technical assistance to borough officials regarding blighted properties.Beckett previously said Gulotta would conduct a site visit to discuss blighted property issues with local officials to assess the nature and extent of the blighted property problem in the borough, to make recommendations about the appropriate strategies for addressing the blighted properties, and to share ideas about repurposing and redeveloping properties, including different ways to attract private investments.She said at that time the areas of focus would be properties located within the central business district.Two properties the borough planned to focus on are 209 N. First St. and 135-139 N. First St.She said the borough would work with Gulotta to address blight, specifically vacant and blighted properties along First Street, and evaluate other properties.The Gulotta Group provides technical assistance to communities for the purpose of furthering community development objectives, including but not limited to housing, neighborhood revitalization and economic development.In November, Councilman Scott Rehrig discussed the demolition of blighted properties, and said the borough's future depends on taking away some of the bad sites. He said the borough needs to improve the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and First Street to attract visitors.Beckett said in October that code enforcement had issued citations for various properties within the business district, and that the borough is dealing with numerous properties on First Street.