40-year dispute over hedges resurfaces at meeting
MASONTOWN – A 40-year-old dispute returned to the limelight Tuesday, as a resident asked that the borough intervene in removing hedges that have become an obstruction to vehicles. Rose DeNardo of Field Street, accompanied by her husband, Vincent, asked council to remove hedges that she claimed should have been removed 40 years ago but had never happened. She said her neighbors have trimmed the hedges in a way that keeps them orderly on their property but allows them to grow larger and obstruct the road.
She said the hedges have scratched her car and impaired her ability to enter and exit the roadway. The hedges are extending onto borough property, she said, which means the borough should take some action.
“We just want that 100 feet of obstruction to be removed from Field Street,” she said. “It’s not fair to us and everyone who uses that street. They have the right to the full width of that road.”
DeNardo asked council to assess the situation first-hand. Councilwoman Sheilah McGalla said the street committee should investigate the matter further and then refer the matter back to the full council so a decision can be made.
Councilman Joe Volansky asked if the hedges growing onto borough property caused a violation of a borough ordinance, noting that if a violation has occurred, the matter falls to the police department and not council.
“If council directed someone to rectify this 40 years ago, then why are we talking about this 40 years later? Why didn’t anyone come back after it was not done the first time?” he asked.
DeNardo said it has been a constant battle with the neighbor and that this issue should not go on any longer. Council President Carole Daniels said she, borough engineer Russ Mechling and any interested council members were going to the area in question after the meeting to view the site before making any decisions on what should be done.
In other business, Volansky questioned borough engineer Russell Mechling on progress replacing several water lines throughout the borough. He said the borough wanted to do the project in phases as money became available, but the work would be bid as one complete project.
Mechling said the bid specifications are still being prepared, but once the project is advertised, it will include one base bid but will add other lines as alternates for the contractor to choose if the prices for the base bid can be held for a year as the borough attempts to find more funding.
He said the five lines to be replaced will cost $80,000 to $100,000, and the project is being bid this way to save as much in costs as possible.
Last month, council voted to advertise for water line replacements on Westwood Avenue, from Redwood Street to First Street; on High Street, from Washington Street to Ross Street; on Blaney Street, from East Church Street to the street’s end; and on East Church Street ,from Willow to City View Dairy.
Finally, council discussed when to purchase a second police car, now that funding has been shored up for that vehicle. McGalla, who serves as police committee chairman, asked if the borough should proceed immediately to purchase the vehicle or wait to pick one from the net model year.
American Heavy Rigging and Hauling Co. of Richmond, Va., purchased a $23,300 vehicle for the borough’s police department in May, and the borough has received $15,000 in state grants plus $10,000 from Fluor Constructors, which is working at the new Duke Energy facility.
Mayor Walter Scarton said the money is there for the car, so he suggested that council move forward as soon as possible. Thought the item was talked about, no formal action was taken on it Tuesday night.
Council voted to advertise the sale of a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice police car with 132,977 miles at a fair market value and voted to deny a $600 bid on a dump truck that had been used by the borough’s street department.