By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville business owner Alice Day read a prepared statement at the Borough Council meeting Oct. 15, voicing her disappointment on how everything is being done behind her business in the Rustic Mall.
Ms. Day, of AD Realty of South Main Street, extended her “sincere respect and appreciation” to the governing body and Fire Marshall Pat Rinaldi for the action he took to halt the closing off of the emergency roadway from the Claremont section through the Rustic Mall property. Plans of developers to close off this access roadway would pose a hazard, she said.
She said she understood the council had “the legal right and authority to write into law an ordinance that would insure continued use of this roadway that has been continuously traveled and accessible to our residents for over 40 years.
”It has been repeatedly obvious that the owners of the Rustic Mall do not wish to do anything to improve conditions that have developed since the beginning of the creosote Superfund cleanup,” she said.
The former Rustic Mall building is soon to be demolished and the borough has been negotiating with the owner to allow continued parking for businesses that front on Main Street. An informal street over private land was threatened to be closed off.
”While I do have sympathy for the owners having to demolish their buildings, losing their tenants and having to start over, I find it very difficult to stand by and watch the entire parcel of land become a barren wasteland, while the town continues to lose tax ratables,” said Ms. Day. “The Superfund cleanup has been completed; the property can now be developed. I can’t understand why you would choose to increase the tax burden on the poor working class while allowing the owners to just ‘sit on it’.”
If the property owners would have at least offered to move back their fencing and allow citizens and existing businesses of town to remain stable and perhaps prosper until they’re ready to build, then that added tax burden wouldn’t be so prohibitive,” said Ms. Day.
”My preference has always been to resolve issues amicably to the satisfaction of all parties, but it appears that we need our town officials to exercise their inherent rights to take the stand to do what’s right and not to be coerced or manipulated by one that appears more powerful,” she said.
”I personally have a strong faith, and believe that you can put aside your political divisiveness and create a bi-partisan ordinance that could be the beginning of giving Manville back its pride… I know you have the power; it’s up to you whether you will exercise it.”
Ms. Day urged the council to “improve and conserve what’s already here: a dedicated, committed group of business owners that want to preserve our ‘small town’ heritage in a town where everyone either knows or is related to someone.”

