Whether or not the Palmerton Police Department remains at its current headquarters or moves elsewhere is under consideration.

Councilman Cory Kepner stated at Thursday’s borough council meeting there is discussion as to if the police department will stay at its present location or find another location.

After the meeting, borough Manager Donna McGarry said discussion on the future of the police department is merely in its infancy stage.

“Whether or not the current location is suitable or whether other options are available,” McGarry said. “We would need to come up with ideas, would need to come up with funding.”

McGarry elaborated further on the matter.

“The location (they’re) currently at, there are some modifications that council is discussing for safety measures and so forth,” she said. “But, as part of the whole picture, discussion came up whether or not to seek an alternative location for the police department.”

However, McGarry reiterated the discussion is only at its beginning point.

“It’s just starting discussion; what would be the best location,” she said. “Very preliminary.”

It was announced at last month’s council meeting the police department was in need of a major remodel, according to several new borough officials.

Mayor Don Herrmann said at that time the building needs a lot of work, and wanted to see the cleanup addressed immediately.

Herrmann suggested at that time that council utilize a large amount of the borough’s COVID relief money to renovate the police station.

Kepner said at that time both he and Herrmann took a tour of the department in the former New Jersey Zinc Company building at 401 Delaware Ave.

He then described the building code violations that he saw and those that require immediate action.

After that meeting, McGarry said some of the things were already in the workings of being taken care of.

Cleanup work was started inside the police department shortly after last month’s meeting.