TAMAQUA - The borough council members said a prayer for the victims of last week's school shootings in Connecticut before their meeting Tuesday.
The council also talked about security at the Tamaqua Area School District buildings in the wake of the massacre that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
"I believe all school districts are looking at their security including Tamaqua Area School District," Tamaqua police Chief Dave Mattson said to the council when a member of council asked about it.
The subject came up when Mattson said a committee in charge of the camera project in the borough was having some problems with installing some cameras that would be outside Tamaqua Area schools. Some of the poles do not have electricity attached but Mattson said they will resolve the problem and find poles that have power.
"Cameras are a priority," Mattson said. "They (committee members) haven't decided where to position the cameras."
Mattson declined to talk about any other security measures the school district or local police have in place except to say that Tamaqua police and the school district check security on a regular basis.
Asbestos
Tamaqua borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said a demolition project on Gay Street has been postponed due to new regulations concerning asbestos siding on the house.
"Any demolition must be checked for asbestos and a certified inspector is needed," Steigerwalt said. "The person removing asbestos must also be certified according to the Department of Environmental Protection."
Sewer connections
Eight properties remain on the list that are legally mandated to be hooked up to the Tamaqua Sewer System. Steigerwalt gave a detailed report to the council on the Wabash Creek Wildcat Sewer Inspections. Five of the property owners have been cited according to Steigerwalt.
In other business, the council made the following appointments and re-appointments to authorities, boards and commissions:
- Board of Health - Dr. Joanne Calabrese and Judy Hadesty R.N., health officer.
- Civil Service Commission - Kathy Kunkel.
- Historic Architectural Review Commission - Linda Yulanavage and Mark Conville.
- Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission - Councilman David Mace.
