Tamaqua Borough Council report

Tamaqua Council approved the following items this month:

• The deed for 252 Cottage Ave. has been received by the borough in the repository sale, borough Manager Kevin A. Steigerwalt said, adding the property will be submitted to the county for approval in its demolition program.

• In the Building and Equipment Committee report, Chairperson Dan Evans made a recommendation to approve a one-time donation of $5,000 to the Schuylkill County Firefighters Association Burn Building Capital Campaign. The vote was 7-0. The original motion on the printed agenda was to pledge $5,000 per year for four years (2017 to 2020), but the committee recommended a one-time donation instead.

“Whatever we donate is being matched by an anonymous donation, so our $5,000 turns into $10,000,” Evans said. “The point is that the fire and rescue companies in Tamaqua have donated to this, and I think it is right that the municipality donates to this, as well. It is a countywide fundraising event. It’s a great training resource and I think it’s the right thing for us to do.”

• Accepted the resignation of utility billing clerk Shannon Boyer, effective Oct. 13.

• Approved the use of county funding for the demolition of a blighted single house that stands in front of the 1801 Burkhardt Moser log home at 307 E. Broad St. at the request of the Tamaqua Historical Society.

In a letter to the borough council, society President Dale W. Freudenberger first thanked the council on its recent approval of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission application in seeking permission to demolish the structure with the plan to “create a much better visibility for Tamaqua’s first house, better accessibility and an attractive green space in front of it.” Freudenberger serves as HARC chairman.

Freudenberger asked in the letter for the borough’s assistance in acquiring county demolition funds to raze the house and backfill the property. Once demolished, the property would return to the historical society’s ownership.

• Approved the request from Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tamaqua, to close Mauch Chunk Street from Greenwood to Market streets from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, to hold a “Trunk or Treat” event from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will be fully covered by the church liability insurance. The rain date is Nov. 5.

• Approved the hiring of Michael Weaver as a part-time police officer. Mayor Christian P. Morrison noted he is not related to Chief of Police Rick Weaver.

•Trick or treat night is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.