Weatherly Borough Council wants to hold a special weekend meeting to reach out to the town’s senior citizens.

Mayor and council President Tom Connors said he was inspired after talking with an older couple in town who said school property taxes have put them in a difficult financial position.

He wants to let seniors know about the services available to them and hear their concerns.

“I just think it’s important that we don’t forget them, and remind ourselves that some people have a struggle every day,” he said.

Whether it’s because of concerns about driving at night, or the inability to find the meeting schedule online, seniors can’t always make it out to government meetings. The meeting could be a good way for council to connect with local seniors, council member Theresa D’Andrea said.

“It’ll be a chance for them to air their opinions,” she said. “I think you have it during the day, because most people won’t come out at night. They won’t drive at night.”

Councilman George Miller said the event should include some local service agencies. Connors said he didn’t want to take away from the senior expo held by Carbon County and state Rep. Doyle Heffley.

Connors said in addition to the meeting, he wants to create a pamphlet or handout that could be given to seniors outlining the different things available, like emergency food and shelter, free tax preparation, legal services and the Evergreen Apartments.

He said he hopes to scheduled the meeting sometime in the next month.

“There are a lot of things out there that our residents might not be aware of,” he said.

In other business

• Council awarded its 2018 road paving contract to Hazleton Site Contractors. They submitted a low bid of $78,228.50. Three other contractors submitted bids, ranging between $84,000 and $111,000.

• D’Andrea requested that the borough give the Weatherly Ambulance Association a list of rental properties so they can contact them for an ambulance membership. If a resident purchases a membership, the ambulance does not charge anything more than what insurance or Medicare covers.

• Manager Harold Pudliner Jr. stated in his report that the borough’s trash hauler will not take construction debris, residents should call Carbon County Communications if they cannot reach the borough during a power outage, and that residents should report potholes to the borough.

• Resident John Latniack said he was upset with the response from the Weatherly Police Department after making calls related to a neighbor issue. Latniack said he was involuntarily committed to Palmerton Hospital and no action was taken against a teenage neighbor, who he believes has been trespassing in his home and harassing him. Pudliner said council needed time to analyze the information Latniack presented.