Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt requested borough council make a motion to pass a resolution to extend the Declaration of Disaster Emergency for an additional 30 days, probably one last time. Council approved the resolution.

Bids for street paving projects were due by May 16 and were to be opened by the Schuylkill County Commissioners on May 20. The award date will be May 26. The project would be funded by the CDBG program. The main paving projects will be Market Street from Union to Elm, and Elm Street from Elizabeth to Market.

The Lincoln Street Retaining Wall project is now going out to bid. Bids are due by June 10 and will be awarded at the June borough council meeting.

Council had asked the Civil Service Commission to proceed with an exam for hiring a full-time police officer. That exam will be held June 30 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall. Applications are due by 4 p.m. June 18.

The community pool has been cleaned and will be ready for opening day on May 29.

Garbage schedule: No garbage pickup on May 31 for Memorial Day. Monday pickup will be done Tuesday; Tuesday’s collection will be done Wednesday, and recycling will be done Saturday. The automated phone system will call area residents to remind them.

Chairperson Richie Linkhorst made a motion to adopt an ordinance establishing a stop sign for westbound traffic on Brown Street at the intersection with Pitt Street.

A motion was passed to hire six part-time lifeguards $10/hour plus an additional $0.25/hour for each year of service; to hire Brynn Gigli as head lifeguard at $11 per hour plus an additional $0.25/hour for each year of service; and to hire Haley Macalush as a part-time pool clerk at $9/hour plus an additional $0.25/hour for each year of service.

Two handicapped parking spaces were approved; one for 401 Hazle St., Apt. 7, to be placed on Patterson Street; and one at 736 E. Broad St.

Council approved a measure to hire two part-time maintenance workers, Greg Confer and Shane O’Neill, at $12.50/hour, effective immediately.

Borough passed several motions at the general meeting:

“Safer Streets from Tamaqua’s Little Feet” will hold its sixth annual “Out of the Darkness Into the Light Overdose Awareness Candlelight Walk” to be held July 17. The event is being held at the Owl Creek Reservoir from noon to approximately 5 p.m. The walk will also include speakers, vendors, food, games, face painting and a butterfly release. The group is asking for the Tamaqua Fire Police to assist in parking cars from noon to 5 p.m.

Also from “Safer Streets”: On Aug. 31, the borough will observe the 21st International Overdose Awareness Day. The purpose of this day is “Remembering the loved ones we lost and acknowledging the grief of those left behind.” The group is asking permission to have the Five Points Fountain lit purple starting Aug. 27 through the following week, and would like to use the Five Points Park for activities on Aug. 31. They also want to promote the idea of turning the town purple for the day, getting residents and businesses to decorate in purple.

The Tamaqua Arts Center is seeking permission to hold the Big Benefit Concert outdoors again this year on July 23 to keep guests as safe as possible. The tent and seating will be the same as last year. The concert will start at 7 p.m.