Coaldale Borough Council members have questioned why the borough's mayor made a $300 purchase without their approval and is keeping the item in question at home.

The item is a metal frame for a park bench. Mayor Joel Johnson said he's agreed to return the piece, but that he was given approval to buy it from the then-council president.Council President Angela Krapf brought up the purchase at council's meeting Tuesday night. She said that Johnson decided to purchase a frame for a new bench, using borough money, without council's approval."You did not have approval from all of the council to take the bench pieces. They need to be returned until all of council decides what to do with them," Krapf said.Johnson said that he ordered an iron frame for a park bench about four months ago, at a cost of $300. He said he thought the purchase was OK because it was approved by then-president Tom Keerans.Since that time, the board reorganized and replaced Keerans with Krapf."The pieces were constructed by Nestor's welding. Tom (Keerans), the president at the time, OK'd that for the cost of $300," Johnson said.Keerans said that the borough previously had an in-house policy where council members could make discretionary purchases up to $200. He didn't say whether or not Johnson had permission to make the purchase.Councilwoman Claire Remington said that the amount paid for the bench frame exceeded that amount anyway."Tom couldn't do that if it was over $200. They need to be returned, because that was in error," Remington said.Johnson ultimately said that he would agree to return the bench pieces to the borough so council can decide how to move forward.It is not the first time that Krapf has called Johnson's actions into question.Earlier this year, Krapf criticized Johnson for what she termed harassment of a part-time police officer working for the borough. Krapf is the wife of Coaldale Police Department's officer in charge.Johnson also started a petition in March to reduce the size of council by two members. It has not been filed.Tuesday was council's first meeting with new secretary Suzanne Whildin. She was hired to take over for Melissa Malatak, who resigned June 1.