A state representative who has an office in the Lehighton Borough Annex building is staying, at least for the time being.

Meanwhile, students who attend PathStone classes in the Coaldale campus will be moving into Lehighton’s annex building for the foreseeable future.

On a 5-1 vote, with Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky opposed, borough council at a special meeting on Wednesday approved a two-month lease with state Rep. Doyle Heffley at the rate of $13.50 per square foot.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said that in negotiating with Heffley, he said he can’t go any higher than $11.75 per square foot.

“He simply cannot go any higher,” Beckett said.

Councilwoman Lisa Perry said her biggest concern is the message being sent if Heffley pays less than what the building’s other tenants are.

As for the other tenants, Councilman Ryan Saunders added, “The last thing we need is for them to be looking to leave.”

Abelovsky said she’d rather have $12,000 a year from Heffley than have the space empty.

On Nov. 19, council on a 4-1 vote, with Abelovsky opposed, agreed to continue to negotiate the lease with Heffley and offer $13.50 per square foot for a month-to-month lease until a long-term agreement could be reached.

Heffley’s lease agreement was set to expire Nov. 30. Heffley has had an office inside the borough annex building at 110 N. Third St. since January 2011.

Recreation director Tom Evans said Heffley’s rate was $11.30 per square foot. An initial proposal of $15 per square foot had been proposed.

PathStone, which also leases space in the annex, has a variety of rates due to the terms/age of the lease, with the average rate being $16 per square foot, and have leased some rooms with the borough for longer terms than others.

Abelovsky said she agreed that prices should be the same across the board, but that she would hate to see him leave because his office is such an asset to so many people.

That vote came after an initial motion to not approve a two-year lease at the price proposed.

PathStone

Also on Wednesday, council on a 6-0 vote, approved a three-month lease with PathStone at the rate of $12 per square foot, and to be put in the lease contract that they don’t have to secure the second floor.

Beckett said there have been building issues with PathStone in Coaldale, and that they were looking to take over two rooms in the Lehighton annex building on a temporary basis.

Council questioned whether the second floor needs to be secured, to which Evans, who was reached by phone, said the answer was no.

Abelovsky said she was concerned that anyone could walk into the room at any given time.

“I don’t think there’s going to be an issue,” Evans said.

Saunders said he would like to give them until the end of the school year.