Despite extending the COVID-related disaster declaration for another month, there are signs that Tamaqua Borough is hoping that some sense of normalcy will be restored soon.

Council approved plans for the annual Memorial Day parade, to be held on May 31, and provided that all CDC recommendations and guidelines are followed.

They also approved a request from the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce to hold a trout fishing derby from May 1-29 on the Little Schuylkill River. The event will be held in memory of Tom Banditelli, a local business owner and original member of the Owl Creek Reservoir Commission who passed away earlier this year.

While they are hopeful that events like this which can be held outside will help encourage people to return to community activities, council also discussed the need to continue the disaster extension in order to be available for any additional funding that may become available to help offset costs incurred by the borough to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Council approved the appointment of David Ceci to the vacancy on the water authority board. The request was made on the behalf of Rush Township to fill their seat on the board.

Handicap parking spaces were approved for 116 Clay St. and 623 Arlington St. The borough approved a certificate of appropriateness for 320 and 322 W. Broad St.

Mayor Nathan Gerace asked council to consider a borough resource to aid in grant writing. He also said that he had been discussing handicap accessibility at the Tamaqua Post Office with the new postmaster.

Council also met briefly for an executive session to discuss real estate, which was interrupted by a fire call that several council members left to attend.