A few Lehighton business owners have expressed their uneasiness over a new traffic pattern they say has negatively impacted their day-to-day operations.

Several of them voiced their worries to borough council on Monday.

Bob Schaeffer, who owns Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe on First Street, told council that he met with former borough Manager Steve Travers, only to regretfully learn of his firing.

Schaeffer said he was upset to hear of Travers’ firing, saying it was the first time anyone showed a real concern for the businesses along First Street who have struggled since Jim Thorpe created a new traffic pattern coming out of the county parking lot.

Schaeffer said that several businesses plan to come on board to form the Lehighton Area Merchants Associated (Association).

He then specifically thanked Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky, whom he said joined them last month in addressing their issue with the county commissioners.

Schaeffer asked council what they have done to help alleviate the situation, as well as its plans to deal with the blight issue.

Tina Henninger, owner of Wine & More on 1st, told council the goal was to increase the quality of life of the residents of the downtown, have the downtown look more cared for, and to aid law enforcement in dealing with low-level nuisance issues, as well as documenting obvious exterior zoning issues which would then be handed off to the proper office.

Henninger then suggested that a part-time position be created that would pay for itself and potentially bring in revenue, as the only upfront costs would be street signage.

She said the person would have the ability to write tickets, and that it would only require two to three days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or about 18 hours a week.

“The position would pay for itself,” Henninger said. “There might be the possibility (to help with) making the downtown a little bit better.”

Abelovsky, Henninger, Schaeffer, and business owner David Miller, asked commissioners last month to help find a resolution that wouldn’t negatively impact the borough’s revitalization.

The problem, according to the group, stems from barriers that are set up each weekend by Jim Thorpe police that moves traffic out of the county parking lot and away from Lehighton, making vehicles turn right toward the Route 903 bridge instead of being allowed to turn left toward Lehighton.