Options for a new borough truck, police and code body camera policies and grant options are among items Lansford Borough are mulling.

Councilman Joe Butrie discussed the problems with the borough’s 2008 Ford F-350 truck, and the need for a new truck during a workshop meeting Tuesday.

He hopes to get a new auger and pump for the truck by the end of the week, and wants a written list of everything wrong with the truck when it goes in for inspection, he said.

Council President Bruce Markovich didn’t think the borough should put any more money into the truck, and Councilwoman Jennifer Staines wasn’t sure the truck was safe.

Council is considering financing options for a 2024 truck, which the borough found for $53,000 and another $54,000 to equip the truck, he said. A new truck will cost a total of about $108,000, Markovich said.

The borough can use about $47,000 in state Liquid Fuels funds toward a truck purchase, and could finance the rest or pull $25,000 from the sewer transmission fund, Markovich said.

Interest rates are running around 4.9% on loans, and no funds for trucks or other items will be available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the next two years, he said.

Resident Tommy Vadyak said the borough could also consider using all Liquid Fuels, tapping funds for multiple years, instead of any loans.

Markovich suggested looking at local banks for financing and getting all the information together for their next meeting.

Borough crews were out patching potholes on Tuesday — ahead of the rain that was expected, Butrie said. They worked on East Front, Dock and Center streets, he said.

“Potholes are popping up all over the place,” Butrie said, adding more will come after the rain and freezing temperatures that follow.

Butrie also discussed the salt shortage and the borough’s public works crew hours and lunch breaks.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek also talked about policies for use of body cameras by police and code enforcement. The policies need to be approved by the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, she said.

The body cameras will not be put into use until the policies are approved, and the borough doesn’t have the cameras yet, Bartek said.

Park

The borough needs to reapply for a grant for a master site plan for Kennedy Park, Markovich said.

The Pennsylvania Recreations and Parks Society had approved a grant before the pandemic, and Ed Black and Associates of Harrisburg in 2023 was given a contract to complete the plan, he said.

An employee of the firm was assigned the task, but unable to complete it due to a lengthy illness, Markovich said. PRPS withdrew the grant from the firm and now wants the borough to reapply, he said.

Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio said council should reapply, and Markovich said the borough should be awarded a grant again, since it had received one prior.

The borough will also be applying for a grant for handicapped rides and ramps at Ashton Park, Markovich said.

The borough will also look at a grant for a handicapped accessible door for the borough office. The borough is looking at a 42-inch door with a smaller, stationary panel. The cost is just under $12,000.

Questions

Residents questioned whether a home on West Patterson Street was going to be demolished, as they heard someone was inside working on it.

Markovich said the home, which is on the demolition list, was sold at tax sale. A group from Hazleton bought it and hired an engineer, who believes it can saved, he said.

The borough now has to send them a letter saying they have a certain number of days to make the repairs, or the borough is tearing it down, Markovich said.

There were also questions about annual rental inspections and inspections when a property is sold. Rental inspections are annual, and there aren’t inspections when a home is sold, Markovich said.

Resident George Gilbert asked when the inspection on home sales dropped, because it used to be required.

Bob Gaughan, another resident, said that an inspection was needed for a certificate of occupancy before moving in, or a moving permit is issued.

Borough Secretary Ashley McLaughlin said that for a moving permit, the borough needs to see the settlement or a lease.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines said she will check the ordinances for inspections for home sales or occupancy.