Lehighton officials expressed concerns over the cost of recent IT service and engineering fees.

Councilwoman Lisa Perry said at Monday’s borough council meeting that DRC Technologies, along with engineering fees. came in “a little bit higher than we expected.”

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky asked if the borough can pay the bills with regard to engineering projects.

“I would say no. We pretty much exceeded our (allotment),” Perry said.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said he believes it’s important to aid in the transparency and do “what we need to do to protect the borough.”

Abelovsky said her concern is if it gets to the point where they would have to start taking from other departments.

She praised Vanessa Nedrick, of Remmington & Vernik, the borough’s engineering firm.

“Vanessa, I think you are doing a phenomenal job,” Abelovsky said.

Up until recently, Abelovsky said that the borough was used to former borough engineer Bruce Steigerwalt, who retired after 43 years as engineer for the borough.

“It is a whole new world for us,” she said. “It’s a little jarring.”

Nedrick said one of the main reasons for the high fees is all the grants that have been made available of late.

“To say this is something that’s going to continue, probably not,” Nedrick said. “We definitely understand council’s concerns.”

Abelovsky added she was just looking for ways to be fiscally responsible and save money for the borough.