Summer in Tamaqua may get off to a slow start. Council voted to suspend the opening of the Howard D. Buehler Memorial pool and pass sales indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 virus.

Councilwoman Mary Linkevich, head of the recreation and youth committee, said the indefinite suspension was made at the recommendation of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, whose guidelines the borough is following.

“Right now, we have no idea when we’ll be able to open, and we don’t want to guess,” she said.

Additionally, the pool will need to be maintained through the summer, even if it is not used, for sanitary reasons. It was noted that other communities, namely Honesdale, have already closed for the season. Linkevich said that there are webinars being offered and they are following the situation.

Linkevich noted that Kellner’s Dam has reopened for fishing for kids only and they have very detailed guidelines for use of the facility.

Councilman Brian Connely said that “they’re doing a great job with what they’re trying to do, and they’re doing what they can.”

Council opted not to take any option to changing or extending the municipal tax deadlines. The rebate period just ended, and the face value period will still be May and June, with a 10% penalty being added on after that.

Council approved a request from the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce to use office space in the basement of the borough building. The request had been made several months ago but was not acted upon. The agreement for the space will be in place of the $8,500 that the borough allocates annually to the chamber.

Council discussed a request to move a voting site from the Tamaqua high-rise to the borough building.

Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt said that the request had been made by the county due to the virus situation.

“It may not be a good idea to have voting in a building populated with elderly.”

Council requested an emergency request for proposal for the demolition of a garage on Market Street. The structure has already started to collapse.