Lehighton continues to contemplate how it can move forward with its current crossing guard shortage.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky noted at last week’s borough council meeting that no decision has been made to take the service away.

Abelovsky said the borough doesn’t have the staffing or police personnel, and that Lehighton Area School District would be better served to handle it.

She further stated that the borough’s intention is not to put the full financial burden on the district, and that the 40/60 split that currently exists could still continue.

“I do still think a meeting between council and the school district needs to happen,” Abelovsky said.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said he believes it’s something council should discuss among itself first.

“We’re just not capable,” Saunders said. “I think they should have a much larger hand in having those intersections covered.”

Abelovsky noted that Lehighton Area School Board holds a monthly workshop that may be worth having several council members attend.

Saunders said he’d be willing to go to those workshops provided another council member or two would join him.

Abelovsky said she and Saunders plan to attend tonight’s Lehighton Area School Board workshop.

Last month, Abelovsky responded to a concern from resident and former borough Councilman Scott Rehrig, who asked about the issue of crossing guards.

At that time, Abelovsky said the borough doesn’t have enough crossing guards, and as a result, was doing a poor job of it.

The borough this year increased the rate to $10.50 an hour and advertised, but nobody applied.

In April, council discussed the possibility of becoming the second municipality to get out of the school crossing guard business.

That frustrated Lehighton Area School District officials who expressed disappointment that the discussion was held in public.

Currently in Lehighton, the borough hires the crossing guards and makes sure those spots are staffed each day, while it splits payment for the guards with the school district.

The borough said it would honor its agreement with the district through the end of the 2021-22 school year.

In April, former police Chief Brian Biechy said the main issue is that basically no one is applying to be a crossing guard in the borough.

Biechy said they’ve been trying to hold to the agreement that’s been in place with the school district.

Saunders said at that time he believes the school district would have a much better pool of people to pull from.

In March, Palmerton Borough Council voted to end its crossing guard contract with Palmerton Area School District effective in the 2022-2023 school year.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said they had 24 call-offs of crossing guards in February, which resulted in Palmerton’s patrol officers having to fill in.