MANVILLE: Council meeting blog

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   The following is a record of minor moments at the April 13 Borough Council meeting, which, though not necessarily breaking news, are still worthy of note.
   For the first time, blame was turned on a higher power, as one resident accused the federal government of being wrong, instead of the municipality.
   Resident Rudy Novak asked the council if there are any plans to fix the streets in Little Weston to account for potholes and other problems on the road.
   According to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke, there are no plans to do this yet because the area does not qualify for county block grants. He said the federal government has determined that the salaries of residents in Little Weston are too high to qualify for the funds.
   Mr. Novak expressed dismay and shock at this, as he said there are not many places in Manville where the salaries can be considered too high.
   ”I don’t want to disagree with the federal government, but they are so wrong,” he said.
   For one resident who disagreed with the council’s plan to participate in the state’s pension deferral program, it is all about teasing possible budget cuts.
   Resident Rich Onderko, who recently filed to vie for a spot on the Republican ticket to run for Borough Council in November, said he can come up with several ways to cut another $300,000 from the budget to accommodate the full $600,000 needed to pay all of this year’s pension costs.
   Unfortunately, mum was the word about what those plans would entail.
   ”When I’m up there (on the Borough Council), I’ll tell you,” Mr. Onderko said.
   Mayor Lillian Zuza said that, if he has ideas, he should share them with council members.
   ”Show (Councilman) Ted (Petrock, finance chair),” she said. “That’s your assignment for the week.”
   It is a question of stopping or ignoring for one resident who questioned the borough’s new policy to require residents to call for pickup of grass clippings and other items.
   Dr. Marie Auletta asked whether Department of Public Works employees would drive past a home with a bag for pickup on the lawn if the resident had not called ahead.
   Department of Public Works Director Phil Petrone responded that if workers stopped every time they saw a bag left out, they might miss out on picking up something from a resident who had called. In addition, he said, if the workers stop once, they might be expected to again, thereby making the policy itself a moot point.
   ”Well, (making the call) is simple for some, but not for others,” Dr. Auletta replied. “Some people don’t speak English.”
   For more on the borough’s policy on picking up yard waste and clipping, see story on page 1A.