Mid-October has been penciled in as the date for this year’s Halloween parade in Lehighton, despite a shortage of fire police to oversee the event.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council on Monday approved the 51st annual Lehighton Area Halloween Parade to be held on Oct. 15. The rain date is Oct. 16.

That came after council heard from Julie Harris, chairwoman, Lehighton Halloween Parade Committee.

Harris noted that in the past, the parade committee used to have insurance.

She said that while the parade committee could pay for its own insurance, the parade runs on donations.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky told Harris the other option would be to partner with the Lehighton Parks & Recreation Board.

Harris said the parade committee received a quote of $500 for two days worth of insurance.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said there has to be another way.

Harris said that many years ago, it fell under the borough’s insurance.

Abelovsky said the Parks & Recreation Board’s main goal is to partner with other organizations to provide recreational activities.

Harris said the parade committee has to meet with the borough police department to ask for assistance of fire police.

However, borough Mayor Clark Ritter told Harris now isn’t the time.

“After we have a new (police) chief in place, that would be the time to talk about it,” Ritter said.

It was stated a new chief of police could be hired by either July or August.

Councilwoman Lisa Perry suggested to Harris that the parade committee look elsewhere.

“I would bank on trying to find volunteers (to be at each intersection during the parade),” Perry said.

Harris said that at past Halloween parades, there used to be one fire police person at every intersection.

Perry told Harris there are some neighboring municipalities that have fire police that may be able to assist.

Abelovksy suggested to Harris that the parade committee meet with the Parks & Recreation Board to work out some of the logistics.

Councilmen Joe Flickinger and Darryl Arner were absent.