Borough residents are seeking to slow down the traffic on Main Street in Allentown, which often travels in excess of 60 mph.
ALLENTOWN — A South Main Street resident spoke to the Allentown Borough Council last week about speeding problems along the street that he lives on, as well as the borough’s main thoroughfare.
Tom Smetanka said he had spoken at a council meeting 18 months earlier and had also spoken with Police Director Harvey Morrell about the problem at that time. But, he said, people still drive about 60 mph on South Main Street, between High Street and New Road, where he walks every night.
Smetanka asked for assistance in slowing the traffic down. He said he would like to see a patrol car assigned to that particular location, adding that he hadn’t seen a trooper out there giving out speeding tickets in a long time.
Mayor Stuart Fierstein said that he and Councilman Art West would talk to Morrell about the problem.
The major reassured the resident that there are remedies in place. Fierstein said the borough had recently purchased speed monitoring equipment and had made some improvements to the Police Department.
Using part of a special $30,000 legislative grant, the borough has purchased a speed monitoring trailer, also known as a "silent officer," that registers a motorist’s speed as he drives by, alerting him or her if they are driving too fast.
Neighboring Millstone recently acquired a "silent officer" as well.
The Allentown council has also distributed Police Department administration responsibilities by promoting one officer to corporal.
In related business, the council authorized the purchase of a 10-cubic-yard leaf vacuum machine from Grover’s Lawn Mower Service, Bordentown. The $11,899 cost of the equipment will also come out of the $30,000 state legislative grant.
In addition, the council passed a resolution authorizing the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission to perform aerial surveillance and treatment through Oct. 15 and another authorizing a $1,500 emergency repair to the transformer at the sewer plant.
The council also approved a motion to move the municipal budget discussion to the March 12 meeting.