Tamaqua discusses summer pool matters

Winter may be plodding along, but Tamaqua Borough is making plans for summer.

Council approved several motions related to this summer’s operation of the Howard D. Buehler Memorial pool, including the hiring of Beth Jones as pool manager, at a rate off $17.50 per hour.

A motion to hire Nathan Steigerwalt as assistant manager was dropped from the agenda after council was informed that Steigerwalt has taken another job for the summer. The pool is slated to open on May 30 and close on Aug. 23. Pool hours will change slightly this summer, opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m.

Season pass and daily rates will remain unchanged from previous years. The borough is advertising for a vendor for the concession stand, and for part-time lifeguards and pool clerks. Interested applicants should submit applications to the borough.

Police officers Michael Weaver and Corey Herring completed their probationary period with the department and were hired retroactively as full-time officers for the borough. The Tamaqua Civil Service Commission also advised council that there is one fully qualified candidate for full-time officer on the borough’s civil service list: Andrew Seip.

Council also approved a request from Police Chief Henry Woods for officer Michael Hobbs to attend police executive training at Penn State.

Council approved a request from the Tamaqua YMCA to use the community pool during its summer camp, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the duration of the summer.

A request from the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce to allow a food truck to be made available during the summer concert series died for lack of a second.

Council approved a proposal from McNulty’s Building Supply to remove the old carpet from the District Magistrate Office, and replace it with new carpet tiles at a cost of $7,130.

There will be a public meeting about the pool feasibility study at 6:30 p.m. on March 10 at the borough hall.

Council also heard from several residents of the Owl Creek section of town, who raised concerns about a neighbor firing off a handgun in his backyard and cars speeding through the area, particularly during the morning and afternoon hours when school buses are picking up and dropping off students.

Council approved a resolution changing the garbage and sewage billing cycle from 30 days to 25 days. This follows a previous motion making the same change to the water billing cycle.

Council held an executive session to discuss real estate matters.