Several residents and property owners in the borough of Tamaqua showed up at this month's council meeting to complain about inconsiderate neighbors.

Pam McCullion, the borough's tax collector, submitted a letter requesting a 10-minute parking zone be established in front of the tax collector office to enable those who are paying their taxes, particularly the elderly, to have better access to the office. She cited examples of other cars parking there for days as an impediment to those trying to pay their taxes. The matter was referred to the parking and traffic committee.John Lane, proprietor of Golden Eye Properties, LLC, who owns buildings at 225 and 227 Lafayette St., submitted a request to rectify the speeding situation that occurs along Lafayette Street."I have witnessed the speeding, and I believe it is only a matter of time before someone is injured in a traffic accident," he stated in his letter. The matter was also referred to parking and traffic.Ken Mellor, a resident of Center Street, submitted evidence to the borough showing how an awning on his property had been destroyed by an independently contracted garbage collector who travels by his property to pick up garbage at the ABC High Rise on East Broad Street.Mellor also had complaints about a property adjacent to him that has been the source of multiple code violations over the past seven years. Mellor showed pictures of high grass and refuse on the property."Something's gotta be done, this guy's gotta be taken care of," he implored council.Despite assurances from the company otherwise, no progress has been made on the Family Dollar Store sidewalk improvement project along Center St. Council finally agreed to withdraw the store's occupancy permit by July 5, unless the project starts to move.Councilman Tom Cara said the large bins provided by the borough's recycling service provider are being left at the front of people's properties. Cara asked if a smaller bin could be made available or if something could be done about people who leave them in front of their properties.Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said that smaller bins are available from the contractor and residents can also use the borough's old bins, which are smaller and more maneuverable, but explained there are areas of the borough where there is no access to the rear of the property, and storage in front of the building is necessary. Violators can be reported to the borough and cited, but the code enforcement officer will use his discretion as to whether the bins can be stored elsewhere.Cara also asked the borough manager if a "pay as you throw" garbage contract has ever been considered. Currently, all residents are billed a flat fee, regardless of how much they dispose of, with a bag limit per week. Cara said that for older residents or small households, it is not fair that they pay as much as large households that may throw out five or seven bags. Council discussed the pros and cons.Councilman Micah Gursky said that type of system frequently leads to illegal dumping by people who don't want to pay to dispose of their trash. Steigerwalt said trying to employ both types of systems would be difficult to administer.