Weatherly Council approved a $6,384,567 balanced budget without a tax increase at its Dec. 28 meeting.

The basic tax rate stays at 6.3 mills, 1% each of earned income tax and real estate transfer tax (shared with the Weatherly Area School District), a local services tax that supports emergency responders of $52 and a $5 per capita tax.

The monthly garbage fee is the only borough fee that is going up - by $5 per month - with the start of the new contract with Tamaqua Transfer.

In other news, a property owner plans a new home southeast of Seventh Street. Dominic DeFrancisco has asked the borough to vacate paper streets that cross the new home site’s property.

There was discussion, and the result was that the request will be approved once a petition is formally made.

The property owner will need to pay for all costs to have the roads vacated, and provide a release from any damages from the action.

A second home site is on the Lehigh Township side of the borough line. The owners asked PPL to install electricity there, and the company declined.

There is a borough power line up the road to provide for homes further along that road so the landowner approached the borough.

To provide electricity to this property, borough manager Harold Pudliner said the borough would need a waiver from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission since the borough is licensed to provide electricity only within the borough.

The law firm of Salzmann Hughes of Harrisburg can navigate the PUC processes for the homeowner, who has agreed to pay all costs. Council voted to contract with Salzmann Hughes, with the expectation that there will be no costs to the borough.

The new homeowner will also pay to have power lines run to the home.

Mauch Chunk Trust offered the best rate for a $90,000 tax anticipation note for early 2023. Two other banks submitted rates.

In other business, council voted unanimously to approve the contributions for the Police and Non-Uniform Pension funds for 2023 (both are fully funded).