Tamaqua Borough Council will have some work to do in the next month.

Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt presented a preliminary copy of the 2020 budget to council Tuesday, and the current projection has a deficit of approximately $165,000 in the general fund.

Steigerwalt said that is pretty typical for this point in the budget development. He also described the proposed budget as “status quo,” with “no major changes,” explaining that there were no major changed including staff additions or reductions, planned for 2020, and that most other expenses were in line with the previous year’s budget.

Steigerwalt said that the proposal does not contain any change to the current millage.

Council approved the following appointments, based on the recommendations of each individual authority: Richard “Chip” Christ, to the water authority, Jack Kulp, to the borough authority and the CRIZ committee; Dan Evans to the planning commission; Tammy Swinburne and William Kennedy to Historic Architectural Review Commission, and Richard Clemson to the zoning board. Council accepted the resignation of police officer Jeremy Sborz.

Council heard from a resident and business owner in the vicinity of Hazle Street. Both requests pertained to a ban on tractor trailers from traveling on Hazle Street, as property damage has been sustained by residents in the area, due to the trucks not being able to swing the turns to get back to Route 209. Council agreed that the ban is merited, and will communicate to businesses in the area that work with delivery trucks to resolve the issue.

The street sweeper schedule has been suspended for the winter.

Community Development Director Anne Marie Calabrese advised council that the borough has received the CRIZ payment for the year, in the approximate amount of $550,000. Council president said that the borough wants to hear from the entrepreneurs out there.

“There is some money available for your projects, but we need to know what they are.” The borough also removed seven properties from the CRIZ zone and added 18.

Certificates of appropriateness were approved for properties at 20 Mauch Chunk St., 1 West Broad St., and 103 East Broad St.

Council approved the installation of “children at play” signs at Lombard and Boyle Streets, and at Lombard and Elm Streets. They also approved the installation of a “School Zone” sign at Lombard and Boyle, as well.

Council denied a request for a 15-minute parking zone at The Texas Chili Dog. The space will remain a metered parking space.

Council approved a handicap parking space for 70 Bowe St.

Council heard from a resident of Hunter Street, who questioned the ordinance limiting the number of animals a property owner is allowed to have. The resident believes his neighbor has an excess amount of animals and it is creating a noise issue. The police will look into the matter.