Lehighton hopes it has addressed the long-standing issue of event hosts requesting the sale of alcoholic beverages during their events.

On a 5-1 vote, borough council on Monday agreed to advertise an ordinance addressing code inconsistencies regarding alcohol in parks.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky, who routinely votes against events that seek alcohol in the borough’s parks, was opposed to the measure.

“I just don’t think ordinances need to be a scavenger hunt,” Abelovsky said. “I think they all should just verbally reflect it.”

Borough Manager Dane DeWire said that the borough ordinances currently have two separate sections which deal with the topic.

DeWire said one section of the ordinance deals with parks and specifically provides that alcohol is prohibited.

However, he noted that another section prohibits alcohol in all public spaces, but is subject to exceptions.

“Chapter 49, subsection 3B pertains specifically to special events and our legal counsel believes this is the appropriate manner of addressing alcohol sales in the parks,” DeWire said. “The new ordinance will alter section 159 to state that no person shall bring spirituous liquor into parks for their own use or for the use of another person, except in accordance with Chapter 49, thus closing the loop and removing the ambiguity.”

Councilman John Kreitz was absent.

Last month, borough council on a 4-1 vote approved the inaugural Carbon County Community Festival.

Hosted by the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp., the event is scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 in the lower park.

Kylie Adams-Weiss, senior vice president of the CCEDC, said the event will include craft and business vendors, children’s activities, food trucks, live music and more.

She said the group was seeking permission to have alcohol vendors on the premises.

Adams-Weiss was told organizers would need adequate signs, a special exception permit, and that the alcohol has to be sectioned off.

Abelovsky said at that time that while she believes the event is a good thing, she is against alcohol at events in the borough’s parks.

Furthermore, Abelovsky added that the borough has an ordinance against it, and questioned why it has such an ordinance if it doesn’t intend to follow it.

Borough solicitor Jim Nanovic said he believes it prohibits any alcohol in the park.

Councilman Steve Hawk said he believes there needs to be something on record since the matter of alcohol at events continues to come up.

Afterward, council on a 4-1 vote, with Abelovsky opposed, approved the event having alcohol in a controlled area.