A Tamaqua Borough Authority member of 15 years announced his resignation last month and Tamaqua Borough Council accepted the request, forwarding a letter of commendation to him for his services.

J. Herbert Derr, 79, of 32 Clay St., resigned recently as chairman of the borough authority that oversees the water and sewer municipal agency.

A retired vice president of the Miners National Bank of Pottsville, Derr also served as a borough councilman for 20 years, during which time he held the presidency. He has been active in community endeavors and was named an elder-emeritus of Trinity United Church, Tamaqua, in 1974. He has served the church for the past 51 years.