Weatherly Borough Council supports a move to increase the 911 surcharge fee to ensure the county has sufficient funding to operate its emergency dispatch and communication center.

The surcharge is attached each month to cellphones, landlines and other digital phone services to support operating county 911 dispatch and communication centers statewide.

Council on Monday adopted a resolution in support of an increase of the fee per a request from Carbon County commissioners, Mayor/Council President Michael Bellizia said.

“Basically, it’s a situation where there’s just simply not enough funding,” he said.

Solicitor James Nanovic pointed out that county commissioners in Carbon County and across the state are requesting lawmakers increase the fee from $1.95 to $2.20 a month.

Streets

Council also approved deeds and authorized the mayor to sign them on behalf of the borough to allow quit claim titles for three paper streets — Blakeslee Avenue, Walnut Alley and Seventh Street.

Residents had petitioned the borough for this change and council moved ahead with vacating the streets in April.

The Weatherly Area School District, which is an adjoining property owner, agreed to the streets being vacated and then reversed its decision this year. Council, nonetheless, moved forward with vacating the streets.

Deposits

Council also approved advertising amended ordinances, Chapter 27, Electric Service Rules and Regulations, and Chapter 5, Billing Procedures.

The change clears up language regarding security deposits, which are given back to residents after paying bills on time for two years, Nanovic explained.

“Most owners probably don’t even have a security deposit anymore,” he said.

Other

In other business, council also approved putting two items to be sold on Municibid.

Borough Manager Tracy Grover said those items were a 2023 trailer and 1999 John Deere 410 backhoe.

Council had no comment or questions on the sale of the items on the statewide municipal bidding site.