Palmerton's Municipal Authority will receive a brand-new utility truck at a cost of $44,041.

Borough council announced Thursday that the cost for the truck will be split in half between the borough and the Municipal Authority.After the meeting, borough Manager Rodger Danielson said the truck would replace a van that had mechanical issues.However, he noted the truck was not a planned purchase in this year's budget."It was not budgeted; we'll make room in the budget for it," Danielson said. "This wasn't an anticipated expense, but one we'll have to do."Also on Thursday, council, on a 4-0 vote, approved procedures and policies for the handicapped parking sign application process. Councilmen Michael Ballard and Richard Nothstein and Councilwoman Holly Sell were absent.Councilman Jason Behler said the borough reviewed similar handicapped parking sign applications from Lehighton, Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill.Behler added it took bits and pieces from each to create the application process "to try to make (borough police Chief) Randy's (Smith) job easier."Mayor Chris Olivia lauded council for their action, and said he believes "it will eliminate some problems."Danielson said the revamped handicapped parking sign application process is necessary to address an increase in handicapped parking requests."Hopefully, this will give Randy more standards to look at when he's reviewing and giving his recommendation to council," he said. "If offers more structure and guidance to the process, really."In other business, council:• Appointed Michael Kercsmar as the borough's new emergency management coordinator. The move comes one month after council accepted the resignation of Dennis Behler, who had previously served in that capacity.