Lansford Borough Council moved through a hefty agenda Wednesday night, but did not yet approve a preliminary budget for 2026.

Council tabled adopting a tentative budget for the new year.

Residents raised questions about increased salaries for office staff and other issues that council could not answer.

Council must adopt a final budget by Dec. 31 by law, and a preliminary or tentative budget must be open for public inspection for 10 days before final adoption.

Council did not discuss the budget or a new date for adopting a preliminary budget on Wednesday night.

On Thursday morning, Council President Bruce Markovich said council will be meeting in executive session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, and council could meet to review and tentatively adopt the budget afterward.

A special meeting for the budget would need to be advertised at least 24 hours in advance.

Council’s executive session on Monday is to review the contract with Teamsters Local 773, which represents the three members of the borough streets crew. The contract with the union expires Dec. 31, and council agreed that all of council would negotiate the contract.

Solicitor Bob Yurchak cautioned council that if they chose to negotiate as a full council, any agreement made would be final and they would not come back to a council meeting for vote on the contract.

Council member George Gilbert said that he could not be part of the negotiation process, as he is a member of the Teamsters union.

Yurchak said that he would be able to vote on a contract, but not negotiate under the law.

Other matters

In other business, council:

• Accepted resignations from Robert Silver, an alternate member of the Civil Service Commission and Joseph Genits, a member of the Planning Commission.

• Approved adopting a simpler method of reviewing expenses and bills for payment.

• Adopted the fee schedule for 2026, which includes an increase in the sewage transmission fee from $60 a year to $90 a year. Council was criticized for lowering the fee two years. Markovich said the move was to help taxpayers.

• Appointed Linda Harvan as a member of the Zoning Hearing Board.