A newly reorganized Lansford Borough Council on Monday moved to reopen the 2026 budget and set three budget meetings for January.

Council last year approved a $1.94 million budget that kept the tax rate at 35.15 mills on Dec. 31, the last day to do so by law in 2025.

Borough council is allowed to reopen the budget in years following a municipal election. A reopened budget must be approved by Feb. 15.

Council set three dates for budget meetings: Jan. 13, 20 and 27 at 6 p.m. A special meeting to approve a tentative budget is anticipated to allow time for public review ahead of the Feb. 15 deadline.

Council held off on an appointment to the Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority but did advertise for open seats on the planning commission, civil service commission, vacancy board, the pension board and Coaldale-Lansford-Summit Hill Sewer Authority.

Council accepted the resignation of John Tucker from the sewer authority, and Council President George Gilbert pointed out that council also received a resignation form Kara Krajnak from the civil service commission, ahead of its reorganization.

Council approved scheduling an executive session for contract negotiations with the Teamsters union, which represents the borough streets department, for Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.

Council will be negotiating as a whole, rather than a committee. Borough Solicitor Bob Yurchak had cautioned council that if they negotiated as a full council, any agreement reached would be final.

Gilbert said he cannot be part of the negotiations, as he is a member of the Teamsters union. Yurchak had said that he is able to vote on the contract, but not negotiate under the law.

Tabled

Council tabled action on a request from the American Cancer Society for a volunteer parking space along West Ridge Street with the fee waived for the nonprofit. The borough will reach out to the organization, as other groups do pay a fee for the reserved parking in the business district.

It also tabled action on appointing a point of contact or grant administrator on a list of grants and agencies that the borough deals with for various programs.

Correspondence

Council also got a letter from tax collector Joseph Pavlis, saying that he is not interested in collecting garbage or sewer transmission bills for the borough.

Council Vice President Joe Genits also pointed out a letter from Carbon County Commissioners’ Chair Michael J. Sofranko regarding the fourth installment to the borough from the sale of the Nesquehoning Valley Branch Line.

The borough received $31,250 from the county on Jan. 2. The borough previously received a lump sum from the sale to Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad in May 2021, and additional installments.

Zipper

The borough accepted bids for its asphalt zipper and awarded a contract for sale to high bidder Continental Construction for $50,300. Council did not disclose any other bids received.