By RON GOWER

rgower@tnonline.comLansford Borough Council appears to be having financial struggles.Bills that are listed for the past month total $53,000, but borough treasurer Mary Fittos said only the most pressing bills will be paid.In addition, council President Martin Ditsky said, "For budgeting constraints, we have to consider layoffs."No discussion was held on Ditsky's comment.After the meeting, he said he doesn't know if employee cuts, if they do occur, would come in the general work force or the police department. He said such a decision would involve the union.The borough has three full-time general employees and five full-time police officers."We won't have an answer (on layoffs) until March 19 or after," he said.Fittos estimates that about $12,000 is needed to pay the most pressing bills.She said funds from rental unit license fees and cable TV franchise fees should come in within the next month to cover the rest of the bills.Payroll isn't affected since there is a separate account.The council by a 6-1 vote agreed to transfer up to $12,000 if needed from a sanitation fund account to the general fund, and repay it.Opposed was Councilman Tommy Vadyak.In favor were Ditsky, Mary Soberick, Joe Butrie, Samantha Yasson, Colin Jones and Rose Mary Cannon.Fittos said catch-up will occur in April when the borough begins receiving real estate taxes.She said because of the amount of plowing needed, the payroll is higher than usual for the past month.In another matter, the borough will contact demolition firms to get an estimate on tearing down the Elks Building that is between Ridge and Patterson streets.The structure has been condemned, windows are broken and glass is falling onto sidewalks, doors are missing and other structural damage seems obvious.The proposal to seek bids was approved by a 6-1 vote of the council, with Soberick opposed.Vadyak said the borough wants to attempt to obtain grants for the demolition work, but first needs to know what such a project will cost.Soberick said engineering work is needed to get a true cost of the demolition.In other business, the council agreed to purchase its paper products, such as toilet tissue and paper towels, from Boyer's Market in Lansford instead of its present supplier.Fittos said a check of prices indicated the items can be purchased at a lower cost from Boyer's than from the other firm an out of area company that the borough has been using.