8-3-06 Borough Council Public Comment

Following the opening of bids and announcements from Council President Dan Chiavaroli (read all about it here), the public comment got underway.

• Maintenance has been let go in the borough facilities, its hot outside, couldn't we have the roof of this room painted? And what about the flower pots outside? They have no flowers and are filled with water, they look terrible.
• Who is responsible for South Broad Street and Jandy Boulevard? The weeds on the left going south on Broad Street are terrible - you can't see. (Council noted it is Lower Nazareth, not Nazareth Borough).
• The ball field maintenance was reduced to $3,000, will it be spent? (Council: The request was to rebuild the infield for $9,000, but was cut back to $3k).
• If we see a new proposal, will it include furnishings? If not, a list should be provided along with it to give a true expectation of the cost. (Councilman Davis noted that items are included in the presentation).
• Can the Nazareth Citizens Action Committee have time to make a presenation to Council on a renovation plan of 30 Belvidere developed by an architect? (Council: Yes).
• An interesting exchange ensued, best captured as follows:
• Question: Will this building be touched in the new plan?
• Davis: I'm not clear on the question.
• Another person: how hard is it to understand?
• Davis: I want to answer correctly,
• Another person: you have a phd right? This wall...
• Solicitor Pierce: We have a procedure and you are recognized before speaking.
• Another person: sorry
• Question: Let me explain what I wanted to say. Does tonight's presentation concern this structure and land? If it does we will defend it in the crudest way possible if necessary.
• In short, the presentation will explain it, but given the power situation it will probably be on Monday.
  
• Are we supporting the Main Street Program?
  
• Again a conversation:
• Werner: Yes there was a motion to support it.
• Chiavaroli: It was a unanimous vote.
• If that is the answer, why? This goes against everything the program stands for. You will cause a vacant building. You have the opportunity to make something of this building. Would yo be willing to look at this and consider it?
• Mayor: That is why we have a committee. The safe and healthy environment for employees is most important. Present to me a viable and reputable firm to demonstrate it is healthy.
• Herbst: Having worked their 35 years (to the Mayor), do you have any confirmed illness related to the building?
• Mayor, No, I never told any of my doctors.
  
• I want to be put on record for my opposition to this expansion. I konw you want a reputable company, but do you know there is a problem? (Council - no, we do not).
  
• Roughtly 9 out of 10 are against this plan, generously speaking. I've been in the building twice and have the utmost respect for the people working there. The police need something. It is not a very functional building. I don't believe mold is an issue, I'll remove it for a buck, if you accept our (Nazareth Citizens Action Committee) plan. And you can test afterward. It's not a trend to build in parks. This is something that has us so divided and its come to a point where we need a solution that everyone is pleased with instead of one that blasts it all apart.

This was the final comment prior to the halt in comment based on the lack of power. After the workshop session, during which not much more than a few gasps of breath were to be had in the continued stale air of the room with too many people and no air conditioning in the midst of a heat wave, came a final statement:

• no matter what you do make this building ADA compliant.

A good note to end on.