Town Meeting Topics Run Gamut

Besides raising the issue of taxes on the Muhlenberg campus (reported here), residents counted Sandy storm cleanup, loitering, gang influence on youth, dog owners' dereliction, Planning Division overload and skateboarding among their concerns at Wednesday's City Council Second Ward Town Meeting.

Resident Cathy Battle said she lost "three cars with one tree" in the Oct. 29 storm and she believes a city Public Works vehicle hit her rental car. She said trees are still down and her household income can't cover the high cost of removal. If roots had not been cut by the city, she said, "the trees would never had a domino effect."

Shade Tree Commission Chairman Peter Simone was in the audience and assured her that the 80-mile-per-hour winds of the storm more likely caused the trees to fall. Noting residents' worries about planting new trees, Simone said the commission was recommending smaller street trees as replacements and offered to come talk to Battles' neighbors about their concerns.

Thornton Avenue resident Dawud Hicks complained that dog owners are permitting pets to defecate on school grounds and playing fields.

"I just don't think that's right," he said, noting his four daughters can hardly get in his vehicle after school without stepping in dog droppings.

(Note to Mr. Hicks: There is an ordinance, Sec. 5:7-1 (c) of the Municipal Code, holding owners responsible to clean up after their dogs. Maybe enforcement is the problem.)

Hicks also said boys as young as 11 can be seen giving "gang" handshakes and called for greater gang awareness and prevention.

Resident Bob Bolmer and two others talked about loitering and panhandling around Park & Seventh. Bolmer called for more walking patrols and Bob Darden said a longtime business there is leaving June 1 due to "hoods" hanging around. Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig said police were taking notice and were working with some of the merchants there.

Darden called for a forensic audit of city finances, alleging "money going under the table and out the door" and chided the council for not yet having a 2013 budget.

Bolmer also said skateboarders now using library grounds and the downtown Park-Madison plaza need a place of their own.

Resident Maria Pellum urged the council to consider the burdens on the Planning Division when passing the budget. She gave a lengthy list of duties that the division's two planners, one part-time intern and one secretary have to carry out and asked the governing body not to shortchange the Planning Division.

On the bright side, Spear remarked on new street signs that Netherwood Heights neighbors purchased and also on new bollards that light up to help residents cross South Avenue. A crosswalk will also be installed to enhance pedestrian safety.

The Third Ward Town Meeting is 7 p.m. May 22 at Cedarbrook School and the Fourth Ward Town Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June19 at Jefferson School. Residents of any ward may attend the meetings and share their concerns with the City Council.

--Bernice