Palmerton has agreed to apply for a grant to assist an expansive restoration project being undertaken by the Palmerton Area Library.

Borough council on a 5-0 vote Thursday approved a resolution for a grant application through the Monroe County Local Share Gaming through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

Council members Holly Hausman Sell and Kris Hoffner were absent.

After the meeting, borough manager Autumn Canfield noted that the borough applied for $252,000.

Contacted Friday morning, library director Christine DeSousa said the money will be used to fix some of the biggest problem areas in the building, with work expected to resume sometime in the spring.

In May, council approved a partnership with the library for a required environmental assessment.

DeSousa explained after that meeting that the partnership is a requirement for one of the grants the library applied for.

The library is currently in the midst of a large restoration project.

Phase I of the project, the portion of the west wall, has been completed, and cost about $75,700.

Marian Hoffner, vice president of the library’s board of trustees, said last year the renovation project would likely cost about $1 million.

Hoffner said the library had applied for two Local Share Account grants, one through the Monroe County Local Share Gaming grant, and the other a Statewide LSA grant.

In addition, Hoffner said the library was also looking to raise money locally, as it isn’t just the building program it has to deal with, but also funding for the library in general.

Hoffner added that along with looking to finance the building project, the library also wants to not only be able to maintain the services that it offers, but also increase them.

Dr. Debbie Miller, library board member, said a visionary committee of about 15 to 20 members, would help to generate ideas to raise funds.

DeSousa said Friday that the committee will meet on Oct. 17 and is comprised of different people who are prevalent in the community asking them about ideas about generating funds and supporting the building.

In October, Palmerton Borough Council approved a resolution for a $1 million Statewide Local Share Account grant to be used for repairs to the library.

Jack Wogenrich, treasurer for the library, told Palmerton Borough Council that the library had been putting a “band aid” on building damage for the last 8 to 10 years, spending about $100,000.

The parapet top stone was slated for removal, 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 would be cleaned and restored, plus the silicone joint compound would be removed and replaced with a sand-based grout that will breathe 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, 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.