Jim Thorpe Borough Council is planning to vote Thursday night on sending a letter formalizing the banning of three juveniles from using Memorial Park for six months after they vandalized a heating and air conditioning unit that serves Memorial Hall last year.

According to Borough Manager Maureen Sterner, the borough had to pay for a professional to come fix the unit and the juveniles have paid restitution of $180.24.

While council advanced the item to Thursday’s voting agenda, not everyone was in favor of the action.

“I think banning a child from the park is a terrible answer,” Councilwoman Jessica Crowley said. “Children vandalize because they are bored. This action separates them from their friends and they’ll act out more and eventually they’ll become adults who act out.”

Police Chief Joe Schatz said the department wrapped its formal investigation and brought the letter to council so it could be formally sent to the individuals.

“We had some discussion on this and this is the amount of time council thought would be appropriate,” Council Vice President Mike Yeastedt said during a council workshop last week.

The Jim Thorpe community, Crowley said, doesn’t offer many activities for children, which she surmised could be leading to the vandalism.

“We shouldn’t be surprised this type of thing is happening,” she said. “Banning them from the park offers them even less. I’m no psychologist but this seems like a very inappropriate measure.”