Lansford Borough Council moved through a laundry list of items at its regular council meeting Wednesday and plans to meet again before the year ends to close out any remaining items.

One of those items is setting its meeting schedule for next year. Council tabled a motion on its schedule as conflicts were not discussed, nor was the possibility of shifting to a workshop or second council meeting a month.

Council will meet on Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. to tie up any remaining business, as well as to discuss changes with its rental licensing program.

Police bonuses

Council rejected a motion to give police officers one-time retention/spot bonuses using $5,000 allocated to the police department for community service, 3-2, with Councilwomen Jennifer Staines and Michele Bartek voting for the bonuses.

Full-time officers Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher, Detective Josh Tom, Officer Matt Houser and Chief Kyle Woodward would have received $1,000 each, and part-time officers Charles Horvath and Amie Barclay would have received $500 each.

Staines said Woodward had requested the funding be used for this purpose on four occasions.

Woodward voiced his disappointment in council’s move, as he said that he had a verbal agreement with council regarding the funds.

Woodward also pointed out he had saved the borough $39,000 by not taking health care for himself and family, and another $15,000 by not taking overtime this year.

Other business

• Adopted an amendment to the Sewer Transmission Ordinance to address multiunit commercial property changes. The amendment was advertised.

• Rejected bids for the salt shed, which were opened on Nov. 13 and tabled by council on Nov. 21. The borough engineer recommended rejecting the bids due to the high cost.

Bids included: Dutchman Contracting LLC, $133,534.50; Stoney Lonesome Excavating, $283,997; and Zawada Enterprise LLC, $106,455.

• Advertised the bids for the 2025 garbage contract.

• Accepted bids and sale of the 2014 Ford Taurus police interceptor from Emergency Marketing of Ohio, $1,500; and the 2003 Mercury Marquis from Pete Longo, $1,650.

• Approved contacting the state Department of Community and Economic Development for information about the Strategic Management Planning Program for improvements to the police department and borough hall.

Council President Bruce Markovich said he’d like to have a speaker come in to discuss the program. STMP provides grant funding up to $200,000 with a 50/50 local match to support hiring independent financial consultants. The cost could be less due to financial hardship.

• Approved the Civil Service Commission to prepare a current eligibility list of new police officers. Council also had instructed, on the advice of its solicitor, that the commission not meet until issues regarding board eligibility and terms are resolved.

• Tabled a motion to purchase security cameras for Kennedy Park and Ashton Park to get pricing on internet service.

• Approved Lacey Gonzalez, of LGH Tax & Accounting LLC, to serve as administrator for the accounting computer to install QuickBooks updates.

• Changed the status of office employees Maria Ahner to Treasurer 1 and Borough Secretary 2; and Ashley McLaughlin to Borough Secretary 1 and Treasurer 2, effective Jan. 1. Both are paid $23 an hour.

• Approved fire escrow accounts in Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank for 214 E. Ridge St., $36,790.47, and $29,067.09, for 243 E. Ridge St.

• Approved contacting Panther Valley School District to update the school crossing guard contract.

• Approved amending the dumpster ordinance to include no dumpsters or pods on public streets from Nov. 1 to March 31, other than for emergency repairs.

• Approved amending the parking ordinance to a provision for towing in the 200 and 300 block of West Kline Alley; areas designed for oversized vehicles based on season; unit block of East Water Street; Sharpe Street between Water and Kline; and the borough-owned lot between West Patterson Street and West Bertsch Street, adjacent to the former Kiddie Kloes building.