Whether or not to hang banners recognizing Coaldale veterans had been under discussion for some time.

But during Tuesday’s meeting, Coaldale Borough Council members agreed that they should go up.

Council President Claire Remington noted that some of the banners, which were purchased some years ago, are showing their age.

“You can’t see the faces on them,” she said. “I know the other towns aren’t putting them up at all if they are destroyed.”

Councilwoman Kim Gavornik suggested contacting those who purchased the banners. Some of them, she said, bought banners last year.

“It’s not fair to them if we don’t give them the opportunity to put them up,” she said.

Gavornik said her opinion was to place the banners, beginning in the middle of town, and working “out” to other streets. She added that banners should also be placed near the Coaldale American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the municipal building.

In the past, those who purchased the banners could request to have them placed by their homes. But council agreed to do away with that practice due to lack of manpower.

“I’ll agree, we can’t go putting them up in specific places,” Councilman Michael Radocha said. “Put as many up that are good, and the ones that aren’t? If the people want to replace them, we will put them up.”

Radocha noted that Tamaqua keeps its banners up year-round.

“Our problem is that when we mount them, the poles are so old that even with the straps, the straps come off, the screws come out of the wood,” Remington said.

Council agreed to have borough workers install the flags soon and remove them after Veterans Day.

In an unrelated matter, council congratulated Scott Gerber for successfully completing emergency management training.

Gerber is the borough’s new emergency management coordinator, and replaces Kevin Soberick, who resigned late last year after being hired to a new job.