Tamaqua to seek assistant code enforcement officer

Following an executive session for legal and personnel matters, Tamaqua Borough Council on Tuesday voted to advertise for an assistant code enforcement officer.

The position will assist the borough’s code enforcement officer. The job will pay an hourly rate of $15, for less than 30 hours a week. The position does not have the requirements that the full-time code enforcement officer position has.

Mary Linkevich, the chair of the recreation and youth committee, advised council that the Morgan Foundation has once again provided a $60,000 grant for the operation of the Howard D. Buehler Memorial Pool. The pool study committee will be holding an open meeting in the future to present several concepts that have been developed for the pool. More information will be announced at a later date.

Police Chief Henry Woods asked council to draft a letter of conditional employment for former borough police officer Kyle Woodward. Woodward has recently retired from the Baltimore County police department and has expressed an interest in returning to the force.

In order to sit for the exam to reinstate his municipal police officer status, Woodward needs the letter.

Council heard from two residents who live on Clay and Washington streets. Both residents had blockages in their sewer lines, and after repeated visits from plumbers, one property still has a blockage.

According to the plumber, the line from the house is clear, but a blockage is suspected between the curb and the main. Both residents said that the borough workers had been to visit the property, but the issue has not been resolved.

Borough manager Kevin Steigerwalt took the number of the plumber that the property owner is working with and said they will try to work together. One property owner, who does not have children, reported that his line was blocked by baby wipes, toys and dolls. He said his line travels under the road and could require the road to be torn up to address the issue.

In other business

• Councilman Tom Cara asked the borough to look into changing the “no turn on red” hours at the intersection of West Broad and Hunter Streets. Steigerwalt since West Broad Street is a state road, the request would have to be made to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

• Cara also asked if the borough has investigated Airbnb ordinances and drone ordinances. Steigerwalt said that an Airbnb would be handled like a rental property, and asked Cara if he had any sample ordinances to model a potential drone ordinance after.

• Council approved a request for the Tamaqua Fire Police to assist with the Girardville St. Patrick’s Day parade and accepted the resignation of Charles Burrell.

• Council approved a request to hold a Hunger Walk on May 3. The event will benefit three food pantries in Tamaqua.