The Northampton Borough Council approved the purchase of a $14,000 electronic digital message sign at its Feb. 19 meeting.

Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock broke the deadlocked council vote regarding the purchase.

"Go for it," the mayor said.

The sign will be erected in front of the borough recreation center on Lerchenmiller Drive.

The state-of-the-art digital sign is a part of a package of three electronic message boards.

The Northampton Borough Municipal Authority (NBMA) and Northampton Memorial Community Center have also approved similar signs from their own funding.

Council President John Yurish, along with, council members Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., and Keith Piescienski voted for the purchase of the sign.

Council members Anthony Lopsonzski Jr., Robert McHale and Ed Pany voted no on the matter.

Councilmen Robert Coleman and Anthony "Tony" Pristash were absent.

The borough code permits a mayor to cast a deciding vote when a vote ends with a tie.

Pausing for a moment, Reenock's vote was yes, noting later he was looking ahead to the borough's future and the use of messages which could be created electronically and changed as a benefit to the community.

Assistant to the Manager LeRoy Brobst, who records the council meeting minutes, said he cannot recall when a mayor's vote broke a tie vote by council.

Reenock said he has not voted to break a tie for about 20 years.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko, in bringing up the matter of acquiring the digital sign, said it was not on council's printed agenda or in the 2015 budget, but a $175,000 fund the borough has could be used to pay for the sign.