Lehighton plans to amend its ordinance for snow and ice removal and disposal.

On a 5-2 vote, borough council recently agreed to have attorney Jim Nanovic amend the ordinance.

Councilman Darryl Arner and council President Grant Hunsicker were opposed.

The current ordinance states that residents are required to remove snow and ice within 48 hours after a storm.

Sidewalks need to be cleared to a width of 36 inches.

The ordinance would be to would require residents to shovel a path even if they have no sidewalks.

Sidewalks

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said she’s received “quite a bit of positive feedback” from residents after she asked council last month to make revisions to the borough’s sidewalk ordinance to have it state that an inspection of sidewalks would need to be completed for the sale of a home in the borough.

She said doing so would not only lend to the safety of the borough for pedestrians, but also add to the curb appeal of the homes.

Borough engineer Bruce Steigerwalt noted that it can be very expensive to put new sidewalks in.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said he would like to see a gauge of how expensive the matter would be.

While she said she didn’t disagree with the reasons that were cited, Abelovsky said she reasons given were an excuse, and that while the borough has an ordinance, it doesn’t follow it.

Hunsicker said while it would be nice to put in all new sidewalks, it’s a matter of cost.

Councilman Jared McEvoy agreed with Abelovsky that some of the sidewalks are bad, but said the borough can’t continue to tack on added costs.

Saunders said he agrees that council needs to continue to have discussion on the matter.

It was decided the matter would be tabled, and brought back for discussion at next month’s meeting.