Starting in March, Tamaqua borough residents will be paying a 10 percent per quarter penalty for late sewer and sanitation bills. The borough has also extended the due date for bills from 20 days to 30 days. According to borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt, improvements in the borough’s billing system will allow for more timely billing with the 30-day window.

Josh Esposito has completed his probationary period and has been hired permanently as the borough’s full-time zoning, code and health officer, effective Feb. 25.

The borough is preparing for the upcoming summer pool season. Adrian Bumbulsky has been retained as the manager for the H.D. Buehler Memorial pool at a rate of $15 per hour, and Beth Fritzinger-Jones and Nathan Steigerwalt have been hired as the assistant pool managers at a rate of $12.50 per hour. The borough is advertising for part-time lifeguards, window clerks and a vendor for the pool concession stand. The pool is slated to open on June 1, and close on Aug. 25.

Council approved the placement of a “Welcome to Tamaqua” sign at the west end of town. There was some disagreement about the exact location of the sign, and the tie-breaking vote to place the sign near the start of the guide rail along Route 209 was made by Mayor Nathan Gerace. Several council members expressed concern that due to the isolated area, and distance from town, that the sign may be subject to vandalism.

Kevin Steigerwalt advised council that the streetscape project along the Center Street bridge has been completed and the lights have been turned on. The borough is in the process of looking for LED upgrades for the decorative street lights in town. Steigerwalt said that the current fixtures would need to be retrofitted or would need an entirely new head. He added that the LED street light replacement project throughout the rest of the borough has dropped the borough’s monthly electric bill from $7,000 per month to about $2,500.

Demolition of the property at 241 Lafayette St. is scheduled to begin next week, weather permitting.

Tom Schlorf asked when arrangements will be made for the fire department to get an out-of-service fire hydrant to use for practice purposes. Schlorf said that he made the first request two years ago, and wanted to know why the request was delayed. Steigerwalt said that a hydrant will have to come out of service before they can give it to the fire company.

Mayor Gerace reminded the community that there will be a “Coffee with a Cop” session on Feb. 23, from 9-11 a.m. at Hope and Coffee, 137 Pine St.