In response, Mayor Peggy Malkin and Councilman Michael Hamilton pointed out that federal funding is available to pay half the cost of replacing water lines, but not sewer lines, and that it is common practice for municipalities to replace utility lines under the roads at the same time as the roads are being reconstructed, thereby avoiding doing additional roadwork that would, unlike the road work that is to be undertaken, not be paid for by State grants.
At the September 12 meeting, the Council voted to table the ordinance and continue the public hearing on it in order to have an opportunity to obtain additional information. At the September 24 meeting, it was again tabled because the votes of four Council members would be required to pass the bond ordinance on second reading, but only four members were present and one of them, Councilman Steven Bowen, still had reservations about moving forward. The public hearing was scheduled to resume at the October 9 meeting.
At the September 12 meeting, the municipal Democratic committee, which consists of Mayor Malkin and Councilman Hamilton, presented a list of three nominees among whom the Council could, as provided by law, choose a replacement for Councilwoman Maureen Parrott, who resigned at the second August meeting. The three nominees were Robert Dermody, Luke Dermody and David Curtis, and the Council selected Luke Dermody. Mr. Dermody,however, was not available to be sworn in at either September meeting. He will only serve in that seat until the November election results are certified, at which time the person elected to fill the seat will take office.
The only candidate for the seat vacated by Ms. Parrott and temporarily filled by Mr. Dermody who will be on the ballot is Lou Esakoff, who has been nominated by the Democratic committee. In addition to Mr. Esakoff, the candidates on the ballot for full three-year Council seats will be Democrats Cody Parker and Steven Bowen, both of whom are currently serving on the Council, and Republican Thomas Hickey, while Mr. Dermody is running for the unexpired seat with one-year remaining now held by Councilwoman Deidre Shean.
Also at the September 24 meeting, the Council postponed until the October 9 meeting final approval of an ordinance to install a stop sign on the northern branch of Homestead Lane at its intersection with North Valley Road. This postponement was due, not to any disagreement among Council members, but only to a delay by the newspaper in publishing the official notice. There have been problems of visibility due to vegetation at that intersection, though that problem has been reduced of late by more aggressive cutting by Borough public works employees, and there was an accident there a few years ago, the low volume of traffic notwithstanding. The stop sign, which was installed in anticipation of the ordinance passing, but which cannot be used as a basis for any legal enforcement action until it has passed, has been installed in the expectation that accidents will thereby be prevented in the future. That will only be the case, of course, if people observe it and otherwise drive carefully.
Borough Engineer Carmela Roberts recommended to the Council that the Borough apply for road improvement grants for Farm Lane, School Lane, Tamara Drive and Pine Drive north of the triangle. The Council authorized submission of those applications.