Tamaqua residents want to restart crime watch group

Several residents attended Tamaqua’s council meeting this week to ask if a crime watch group could be started again in the borough.

The request was fueled by people reporting mischief and bad behavior on a Facebook public forum.

Christine Murphy-Dowell, a Coaldale resident, referred to herself as a “big reporter of different activities” and expressed an interest in forming a citizens’ watch group in Tamaqua.

“Even though I live in Coaldale, I do a lot of my business here in town. I go to the gym. I go to the library,” she said.

Murphy-Dowell also said that her work schedule has her passing through town at odd hours and she has observed “what you would call gangs of kids” in the parking lot at Boyer’s, and hanging around the railroad tracks.

Murphy-Dowell said that sometimes just knowing that people are watching is enough of a deterrent to keep bad behavior at bay.

Council President David Mace said that council is supportive of any kind of group that is willing to take on that responsibility but cautioned that similar groups have failed in the past due to a lack of volunteers and interest.

He suggested that Murphy-Dowell discuss the matter with Cpl. Dwayne Hacker, the police officer-in-charge, and Mayor Nathan Gerace.

Council also approved a repository sale of a property at 250 Brown St. and an adjacent parcel, to Arthur Brennaman. Council said that the code enforcement officer has not found anything in Brennaman’s background to disprove the request.

The proposed construction project on the West Broad Street bridge will begin on June 6. The project has been delayed until school is dismissed. The project will last until about Aug. 19. Council has been informed that the project will be worked on seven days a week, 10 hours a day.

Community Development Director Ann Marie Calabrese notified council that 45 trees will be planted at the Bungalow Park, thanks to a tree-vitalize grant.

Council moved to advertise internally for a full-time police chief. Applications will be due by May 2.

Gerace advised council that an ad hoc committee had reviewed a potential senior citizen discount for sanitation fees, but at this time, the tools are not in place to set something like that up in the system.

“It’s not off our radar, but it’s not something we can do now,” he said.

Residents from Elm Street questioned the borough’s ordinance on barking and howling dogs. They were advised that the police can issue citations.

Members of Safer Streets for Tamaqua requested that memorial benches in the Spruce and Hunter street parking lot area be removed and given to the organization for safe keeping while construction is being done in the area to prevent damage to the benches. The benches will be moved or reinstalled when the work is complete.

Council held an executive session for personnel matters.