The Parryville Borough Council voted this week to approve a new website and discussed significant digital upgrades.

Council President Jason Smith announced the borough’s existing website is nonfunctional and its contents unrecoverable.

The board approved purchasing a new domain, parryvilleborough.com, at a cost of $12 per year for the first two years.

Smith emphasized the need to modernize operations, including securing internet access and a computer for the borough council room.

“We need to advance the borough,” Smith said. “We need more structure for our small community. All of our business needs to be electronic.”

Smith also proposed seeking quotes for cloud storage and iPads for council members to eliminate paper use.

He suggested a data collection system on the website to support a quarterly newsletter for residents.

Smith also provided an update on plans for a combined fire department, borough hall and emergency shelter facility.

The borough has $600,000 secured but needs $2.5 million in total. Additional grant funding is pending.

Smith said in September 2023 that the borough planned to seek Local Share Account grant funding for its tri-use building, which would house its fire department, borough hall and emergency shelter

The new building would be built on property to the east of the current fire company on Main Street.

The basement would be the borough hall/emergency shelter; the middle floor would be the fire department and multipurpose room; and the top story would be for storage.

Other business

• Patrick Yoder and Administrator Brittany Daiello requested and received an extension of time for development of an assisted living facility on Cherry Hill Road. They reported ongoing work with zoning and plans to improve the area.

• The board approved the fire police’s participation, if available, in two upcoming events in Palmerton: “Airing of the Quilts” on May 3 and May 10, and the Lehighton Memorial Day Parade on May 25 and 26.

• Administrator Nicole Beckett distributed a formal petty cash policy to council members for review.

• A burn ban remains in effect in Parryville until further notice.

• Smith reported 21 delinquent solid waste accounts, stating that the collection agency, PAMS, has not made efforts to collect since the 2022 agreement.

Beckett proposed drafting letters to residents to set up payment arrangements.

• Tax bills mailed to residents for the 2025 occupation and per capita tax were incorrect due to a mistake by BerkOne, which omitted the occupation tax. The board is considering whether to resend corrected bills or issue a separate bill for the occupation tax.

• Planning continues for Parryville’s 150th anniversary celebration. The organizers are seeking sponsorships.

• There has been no communication from 700 State Street regarding sewage usage as outlined in the current agreement.