The Borough of Northampton's unofficial skateboard park at Smith Lane and Lerchenmiller Drive recently suffered another blow.

"A crew of the public works department will begin removing the old half-pipe ramp at the skateboard park. This ramp was never completed and is in bad condition," borough Manager Gene Zarayko advised borough council, Jan. 15.

Although council members had no comment on the issue, Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Jr., building, land and recreation committee chairman, reiterated the administration's position regarding the skateboard park.

More than a year ago a borough resident went before council proposing another use for the site, but it never came to fruition. The borough at the time had the park cleaned up from debris and other items scattered at the outdoor skatepark. The facility is lighted.

In other business, Councilman Keith Piescienski, public works and sewer committee chairman, said the deadline has passed for public works personnel to pick up discarded Christmas trees.

Because the final days for residents to have the Christmas trees at the curb passed, Piescienski said that now all trees must be taken by the residents to the recycling center because the trash haulers will not take them.

Zarayko also mentioned residents are disposing of TVs and computer monitors. The borough and other municipalities have learned such recycling efforts are no longer in place. Council Vice President Robert McHale said what he envisions happening is people discarding such items on road sides.

And the last reminder of Christmas is taking place as a public works department crew is in the process of removing all holiday street lighted decorations and soon will be installing the red/white Valentines decorations, then Irish shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day, followed by Easter lighted street decor.

Northampton is the only community in the region with such a program.