Lansford Borough Council has hired a law firm they hope will get Panther Valley to install a sidewalk near the high school football stadium.

The district says that council exempted them from the borough’s sidewalk rules when it took out the old pavement along the 400 block of West Bertsch Street five years ago.

At council’s November meeting, members voted to hire Gregory Mousseau to represent the borough against the district. Robert Yurchak is the solicitor for both the school district and the borough.

The current council members say the district is in violation of the borough’s sidewalk ordinance. Council President Bruce Markovich said that parked cars along Bertsch Street create problems for people using the sidewalk in wheelchairs.

“There’s no access, they’re forcing these people to go out on the street,” he said.

A couple living on West Bertsch Street told council in June that drivers pulling out from the parking spots were causing traffic problems.

Panther Valley Business Manager Jesse Walck said council waived the sidewalk requirements for the district. The district demolished a garage on the site five years ago and took out the sidewalk.

“They sent us a letter, but they previously told the school it did not have to be done,” Walck said.

Borough council also recently asked the district to move a bus stop. The district said they are reviewing the change.

The bus stop at Spring Garden and Ridge streets would be moved one block, to the front of the Lansford Borough hall. People who lived near the bus stop recently told council that their vehicles were damaged by students at the bus stop.