The Lansford Borough Council recently held a special meeting to conduct several items of business.

Council appointed George S. Krajnak Jr., of Lansford, to a 5-year term on the Lansford Coaldale Joint Water Authority.

His was one of three applicants considered.

Council President Bruce Markovich said Krajnak was “simply the most qualified.”

Krajnak’s experience was as a maintenance foreman for the Panther Valley School District. He is also a 45-year member and past chief of the American Fire Company No. 1 of Lansford.

“As chief it was very important to know the water system and hydrants of the borough and now as an operator I am still very familiar with pipe size and flows to the borough hydrants,” Krajnak wrote in his application, which also notes his work as an electrician.

Other letters of interest were received from Chris Ondrus - who said he’d work for $100 a month - and Tommy Vadyak. Markovich said those appointed to the water authority board are paid a monthly salary.

“This payment is determined by the water authority itself,” he said. “The borough does not set or contribute to the salary of the board members.”

What has happened in the past, Markovich said, is that board members are then hired as water authority employees.

“So they are both board members and employees of the water authority at the same time,” he said. “Again, the borough has no authority in this.”

In another matter, council adopted a resolution that asks Carbon County commissioners to adopt a state act that allows counties to impose a $15 fee on each property transaction and mortgage recorded by the Recorder of Deeds office.

The money would then be deposited in a special countywide demolition fund to be used to demolish blighted properties.

Council also approved the purchase of fingerprint reader time clocks for the police department, borough garage and the borough office at a cost not to exceed $500 each.

“The borough has received complaints about employees arriving late and leaving early while claiming they were here but not seen,” Markovich said. “In order to properly determine if all employees are working their scheduled shifts it was decided to install fingerprint time clocks for use by all borough employees and contractors.”

The clocks will be installed once the borough devises a policy for them.

Also, council hired George Howe, of Saylorsburg, as a part-time police officer.