As expected, Coplay Borough Council Tuesday night voted to waive permit fees for residents required to install new curbs and sidewalks this spring.

After several residents spoke at last week's workshop meeting, council members indicated they would not waive the curbing and sidewalk requirement but would likely waive the permit fees.

Councilman Bill Leiner Jr., who did not attend the workshop, asked if the borough was setting a precedent by waiving the fees, the cost of which is based on the length of curb and sidewalk to be installed.

Secretary-Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek said the borough has waived the fees in the past for residents required to install curbing and sidewalks in conjunction with borough repaving projects.

Also as expected, council appointed former Fire Chief Dave Buskaritz as emergency management coordinator to replace Tim Keller, who resigned in October.

Gyecsek read a letter of recommendation for Buskaritz from current Fire Chief Matthew Buskaritz, who also is Dave Buskaritz's son.

"I and members of the Coplay Fire Department believe that Dave's experience, level-headedness, willingness to learn and decades of ... service to Coplay would make him a viable candidate for the position," the letter says.

Council also gave a first reading to the proposed 2014 budget, which includes no tax increases. A more detailed article on the budget will appear in next week's issue of The Press.