Roosevelt considers closing portion road

BY JANE MEGGITT Correspondent

ROOSEVELT — The borough will investigate the feasibility of closing North Valley Road at the intersection of County Route 571 or making it a one-way street.

The discussion was the major item of business at a short regular meeting of the Borough Council on July 11. Councilman Ralph Warnick said that part of North Valley Road is “just gone,” as far as pavement is concerned.

Councilman Jeff Ellentuck said he recently drove down the road to turn left onto County Route 571 and “forgot how dangerous it was.” He said the sight lines for mak- ing a left turn are poor. When he brought up the possibility of closing the road, Mayor Beth Battel said the subject came up several years ago, but emergency services wanted to keep the road open as an access road. This portion of North Valley Road connects the part of County Route 571 known as Clarksburg Road to Lake Drive. If the borough closed the road, vehicles would have to access Lake Drive from Spruce Lane or the portion of County Route 571 known as South Rochdale Avenue.

One house, which is currently for sale, has a driveway in the area proposed for closing. Councilman Tom Curry suggested contacting the homeowners to see how any change would impact them.

Councilman Dan Hoffman suggested making this portion of the road a one-way street going north. Borough attorney Richard Shaklee said he would look into the borough’s options as the road junctures with a county road.

In other business, Warnick said that the borough has two fire trucks, a dump truck and a trailer that are no longer in use and could be sold. He also suggested sending the pieces of several lawn mowers to a junk dealer. Curry said the borough must also do something about the municipal garage, which is too small to accommodate the free fire truck the borough has received. Ellentuck said the town would look for grants.