Time flies when you get busy with work, home repairs, and nuisances that life throws at you, but still has to be dealt with. It’s surprising to me that 6 weeks has gone by since I wrote anything, but I’m occasionally reminded of that fact when I’m asked by residents, “What’s happening in town? Why aren’t you writing about it?”
My standby response is to tell people to attend a Council meeting, but rather than detail everything I’ll just give a brief summary. Most of which can be found on the official West Easton Borough website, which our new Borough Manager, Joan Heebner, has been updating by posting important information that residents should know. These include Council Minutes and Announcements.
In no particular order, some of what has been discussed at council meetings:
The brick work repair on the corner of the Municipal Building has been completed. It will now be checked occasionally to see if the separation of bricks that occurred is continuing. It is hoped that the repair of a spout discharge pipe that allowed water to undermine the brick has stopped the settling of that brickwork.
The date for the dedication ceremony of the park on Keystone Street to honor Mayor Gerald Gross is still unknown. According to Councilman Tom Nodoline, who spearheads the dedication, the completion and delivery of new signs is the reason. The decision to rename the park was made in late 2015. It seems having Northampton County prisoners make the new park signs in order to save a few hundred dollars takes as long as those prisoner’s sentences. Perhaps they plan on delivering them personally when they are released?
An application for a grant from casino uncommitted funds failed to be approved. 33 communities applied for more than $700K when there was less than $300K available. West Easton was seeking $25,000 for sidewalks along two sides of the park at Keystone. Most of the grant monies went to communities looking for police and security upgrades.
As can be seen, road work is in progress in the borough. Adamson St. is the most troublesome due to old trolley rails buried beneath the roadway. A previously disclosed problem to all who quoted prices, but apparently came as a surprise to the company performing the work, when they were exposed during milling of the roadway. Pricing and work to be done is now being re-evaluated.
Street lighting will see a change to LED bulbs, a less expensive lighting alternative. LED lights last longer and use less electricity.
Police Protection? Though still in discussions with Wilson Borough I’m not very optimistic of a favorable conclusion. I will write an opinion piece and my stand on the issue near the end of September October.
Updated 9/30/16 to correct month of planned opinion piece.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
