Palmerton has endorsed a large restoration project for its downtown library.

Borough council on a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, approved a resolution for the Palmerton Area Library for roughly $1 million from the Monroe County Local Share Gaming grant.

Councilman Kris Hoffner abstained from the vote, because his wife works for the library. Council members Holly Hausman-Sell and Cory Kepner were absent.

Earlier this month, Bowmanstown Borough Council also approved a letter of support for the library for the grant.

Jack Wogenrich, treasurer for the library, told Council last month that the library started a restoration project that would continue for about a month. He asked Palmerton Borough Council to support grant applications for the project.

Wogenrich said there is damage to the interior of the building that stems from the outside masonry and parapet of the building. He said the library has been putting a “band-aid” on the problem for the last 8 to 10 years, spending about $100,000.

Wogenrich said the small project will cost about $75,500.

Library director Christine DeSousa said after last month’s Palmerton Borough Council’s meeting that as part of that work, the parapet top stone will be removed and a water diversion system installed that will channel the rain water from dripping down the parapet wall, to the roof membrane and then to the drain.

Also, the stones on the outside of the building will be cleaned and restored, plus the silicone joint compound will be removed and replaced with a sand based grout that will breath and release water instead of sealing it in.

Wogenrich said the overall cost for the entire work is around $1 million.

DeSousa said the library will get the same work done across the whole building as it’s getting done now, then it will get the windows replaced on the addition; specifically the window on the south side of the building. From there, she said there will be painting, plaster and carpeting done.

DeSousa told council the library would do all of the legwork for filling out the applications.

She stressed the library is used by visitors for a whole host of activities.

DeSousa said the building will soon turn 100 years old - it was completed in 1926. The library moved into the space in 1974.

Afterward, Palmerton Borough Council last month made a pair of motions, both of which passed on 6-0 votes, with Hoffner abstaining.

The first motion was for Palmerton Borough Council to support the library for a Keystone grant partnership, which was followed by a motion for the borough to support the library for a Local Share Account grant partnership.

Hausman-Sell said at that time that they may be competing for an LSA grant, since the borough is looking to obtain one for its police station, and that council wanted to ensure the library would have a good shot at obtaining it.