Lehighton has taken the next step to dissuade mischief in its upper and lower parks.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council on Monday approved a resolution to submit the borough’s 2021 Local Share Account Grant application.

The grant application is for a video surveillance system for both parks, and is in the amount of $93,000. Councilman Donnie Rehrig was absent.

Last month, borough Manager Nicole Beckett asked for suggestions on projects for the grant application, at which time Councilmen Ryan Saunders and Joe Flickinger said they would like to see wireless cameras installed in both parks.

Recreation Director Tom Evans said at that time they’ve received complaints about the Grove because there’s no equipment due to it being destroyed.

In July, vandals struck at the fountain in the borough’s lower park when they filled it with soap and bubbles.

Foam could be seen oozing from the fountain for what borough officials said marked the second time in a month.

Also on Monday, borough Mayor Clark Ritter revisited discussion from last month that pertained to a street neighborhood watch.

Ritter said it was mentioned at that meeting there were speeders, and people weaving in and out of traffic on the bypass.

He also said that while there are speeders on various other streets in the borough, there’s only so much the police department can do.

“We have only so many people to do the job,” Ritter said. “People don’t realize what all is involved with being a police officer.”

Ritter noted there was mention made of what he should be doing as mayor to set up a Crime Watch, and that both he and Detective Matt Arner have been working on setting up Crime Watch programs for the past two years.

He told council last month that he’s trying to start up a street neighborhood watch, and was also working on one for the community grove, but added that the problem is finding volunteers.

Rehrig told Ritter at that time he needs to have a communitywide crime watch.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky noted at that time there was a lot of chatter on social media talking about a push for people starting to want to volunteer.

In December, Lehighton’s Neighborhood Crime Watch took a hiatus due to a sharp resurgence in COVID-19.

Ritter said then the group didn’t feel comfortable holding a meeting at that time.

In October, Ritter said Arner would lead the Neighborhood Crime Watch, and added they would try to expand it from South Second Street.

That came after Ritter suggested at council’s July 2020 meeting that a Neighborhood Crime Watch be started.