The Nesquehoning police chief will receive full benefits for an injury he had sustained while working over the Memorial Day weekend.

On Wednesday, following a brief executive session, Nesquehoning Borough Council voted to approve Chief Sean Smith's request for Heart and Lung Act benefits.The Heart and Lung Act gives police officers access to benefits beyond normal workers' compensation. It allows police officers to receive 100 percent of their pay, tax free, while they recover from injuries incurred on the job.Council President David Hawk said that Smith's request stems from an injury he received over the past Memorial Day weekend, but didn't disclose specifics on the injury or how it occurred.He said that so far the benefits are for a combined 22½ hours of time, plus any additional time he may incur in lieu of sick leave for the time he took off due to medical reasons.Hawk added that it is not anticipated that Smith will have a lengthy absence from work as a result of the injury.The incident is also being submitted to the borough's workers' compensation insurance.If approved, Hawk said the borough would receive those payments as partial reimbursement to Smith's Heart and Lung Act payments.