Satisfied with a reduced increase in pay rate, Lehighton has opted to retain its engineering firm.

On a unanimous measure, borough council last week approved the 2025 rate schedule from Remington and Vernick Engineers.

Council heard from Vanessa Nedrick, an engineer with Remington and Vernick Engineers.

Nedrick told council the fees come with a lower rate.

Councilman Steve Hawk said it’s important for the borough to have someone with experience.

Councilman John Kreitz suggested to borough council last month that it talk the matter over with Nedrick.

Borough manager Dane DeWire brought the matter up at council’s special meeting in December after Remington and Vernick Engineers requested a considerable increase in its pay rate.

After discussion with council, Nedrick said her firm would be willing to work with the borough.

She said this was the first time they proposed a rate increase for its services to the borough in some time.

DeWire said some of the issues have been untimely responses and unreturned phone messages, however Nedrick said the minute they receive messages, they review them.

Abelovsky said she wanted to see Nedrick and Remington and Vernick Engineers come back to the borough with a reduced rate.

DeWire said in December that council could choose to retain Nedrick, or go with one of two other candidates whom council met with earlier in 2024.

But council members David Zimmerman and Becky Worthy both said at that time they liked the idea of looking into another engineer.

DeWire noted Remington and Vernick’s rates have gone up across the board, and added all engineering rates have increased between 21% and 30% between the 2024 and 2025 rates.

Comparatively, he said the other firms in council’s top three choices from earlier in 2024 only had rate increases of 5% and 4%, respectively.

DeWire said his main point of contention was regarding the professional estimate that the borough received for the I & I abatement project.

Remington and Vernick firm serves various municipalities, including ones larger than the borough.

As a result, DeWire said it appears at times that the borough isn’t always given top priority, and noted correspondence isn’t always swift.