Coplay Borough Council, at its July 14 meeting, approved the lease of the Parkway Pavilion for this year’s Community Days festival.

The annual three-day event is planned for Aug. 28-30. The Community Days organization responsible for planning the long-called “party in the park” will lease the pavilion Aug. 22-30.

Council also approved a $500 donation to Community Days.

In other business, a $504 membership fee for the Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce was approved for payment.

Coplay Garden Club will use the pavilion Sept. 11. Council waived the fee.

Councilman Mick Dee recognized the efforts of the garden club. Mayor Bill Leiner agreed, saying the “excellent organization deserves recognition from council and the mayor’s office.”

Dee asked if a recognition of residents who take good care of their properties could be developed, adding he recalled a time when this was done.

Leiner said Dee was referring to the former Properties of Merit Program (PMP) that was run for several years under Leiner’s time as mayor in the early 2000s. Borough residents voted on the PMP nominees, and winners received prizes.

Council approved a payment of $1,600 for Tree of Life to remove a tree on the grounds of Balliet Stadium.

Coplay Public Library was approved to use the borough hall gymnasium for a special program held July 25.

Stipend payouts of $9,000 were approved for two borough police officers, as noted in memorandums of understanding.

In the borough fire department report for June, Chief Dakota Fenstermaker said personnel responded to 188 incidents, 22 of which were reported fires.

He noted a new member has joined the fire department.

Borough council President Richard Kern asked about the most difficult staffing times. Fenstermaker said weekends are the most challenging for staffing.

“We are hurting during the day,” the chief added.

Borough council next meets Aug. 4, for a workshop, and Aug. 11, for a regular meeting. Both are held 7 p.m. at borough hall, 98 S. Fourth St.