By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN – The Borough Council has adopted an ordinance that bans trucks weighing more than 4 tons from Allentown’s streets.
The ordinance was introduced on Oct. 25 and adopted at the council’s Nov. 15 meeting with affirmative votes from council President Wil Borkowski, Councilman Robert Strovinsky, Councilwoman Madeline Gavin, Councilwoman Johnna Stinemire and Councilman Rob Schmitt.
Councilwoman Angela Anthony was not present when the ordinance was adopted. She arrived later in the evening.
In addition to prohibiting trucks weighing more than 4 tons from borough streets, the ordinance prohibits trucks weighing more than 4 tons from certain Monmouth County routes that run through Allentown.
In a discussion of the ordinance at a previous meeting, Borough Attorney Greg Cannon said a law banning trucks from county roads may not be upheld in court if it is challenged by a trucking company.
However, the borough’s elected officials said they wanted to proceed with the ordinance as a way of letting Monmouth County officials know that Allentown cannot handle the volume of trucks that passes through town on a daily basis.
The ordinance states that trucks weighing more than 4 tons gross vehicle weight “are hereby excluded from the following county roadways and all borough streets, except vehicles will be permitted on all streets for the purpose of pick-up and delivery of materials and on route to parking…”
In regard to county routes, trucks weighing more than 4 tons will be prohibited on:
• Main Street (Route 539/524) from Probasco Drive to Allentown-Yardville Road.
• Allentown-Yardville Road (Route 524) from Main Street to Breza Road (Allentown-Upper Freehold Township border).
• Church Street (Route 526) from the Robbinsville-Allentown border to Main Street.
• Waker Avenue (Route 526) from the Upper Freehold Township-Allentown border to Main Street.
• High Street (Route 539) from the Upper Freehold Township border to Main Street.
The ordinance states that if any section of the ordinance is declared invalid (i.e., the prohibition of trucks on county roads), the other sections of the ordinance will remain in effect (i.e., trucks weighing more than 4 tons banned from borough streets).
In other business at the Nov. 15 meeting, council members and Mayor Greg Westfall met with June Madden, the borough’s chief financial officer, to discuss capital projects that may be undertaken in 2017 and beyond.
Madden provided an extensive list of capital projects that could be pursued and discussion among the mayor and council members sought to identify those projects which have a high priority for Allentown.
The discussion highlighted an issue with failing storm water inlets and a project that may be undertaken to repair the infrastructure. Plans may also be in the works to purchase a Breathalyzer machine for the Allentown Police Department, to make various road and sidewalk improvements and to address issues at the Main Street and Pearl Street parking lots.
Capital projects related to the borough’s water system were also discussed, including water storage tank improvements, water line replacement, well No. 1 rehabilitation, hydrant repairs and replacement, water filter media replacement and a water loss audit plan, among other possible work.