Aged playground equipment in the Palmerton Borough Park could eventually be overhauled.

To take steps in that direction, borough council on a 4-0 measure on Thursday agreed to apply to the Pace-Makers Association of Palmerton for an $11,135 grant for a new tot lot play structure.Council members Kris Hoffner, Richard Nothstein, Michael Ballard and Holly Sell, were in favor. Council President Terry Costenbader abstained from the vote because of his affiliation with Pacemakers. Councilmen Jeremy Barbosa and Jason Behler were absent.Borough Manager Rodger Danielson explained the need for the new structure."The play structures that are there now are really deteriorating," Danielson said. "There's room to bring a new structure in, and hopefully draw some attention from the community and create community awareness."The current playground equipment was installed in the mid-1990s.The Pace-Makers Association raises funds for recreation purposes.Tree trimming complaintAlso on Thursday, resident Paul Snyder of 1004 Charles St. approached council with a complaint that a tree on his property was limbed up too high."Last month borough workers came and completely butchered my tree," Snyder said. "If you look at it, you won't believe what it looks like."To make matters worse, Snyder said he was never notified that the tree would be trimmed.Council President Terry Costenbader attempted to address the situation."I drove by your home, and I don't disagree with you," Costenbader said.Costenbader said that per borough code, trees should be trimmed to a height of up to 15 feet.Snyder countered that per borough code, there must be 60 days notice.Danielson told Snyder the borough's public works department has been going around town as part of a program to do general trimming.But Snyder said he's driven around town and taken pictures of other properties where trees have been trimmed, and they aren't trimmed as his is.Councilman Kris Hoffner said he understood Snyder's concern."I think it's up too high, I really do," Hoffner said.Danielson said the public works department used their judgment when trimming trees."Whether they got overzealous, I don't know," he said.Snyder then asked what if anything could be done."It's beyond repair," he said. "We had so many compliments on it, and it's gone."Danielson said council would take his concern under consideration.