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Palmyra Borough Council approved two action items during Tuesday’s meeting — a reduction of the financial security required for the East Ridge Road Melrose Development project from $838,477.86 to $597,753.67 and a PennDOT winter maintenance agreement for the years 2025 through 2030.
The East Ridge Road Melrose Development project’s financial security, which is the cost of public improvements that the project developers are bound to make while constructing their planned duplexes, was decreased by a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Fred Carpenter serving as the tiebreaker. Council members Beth Shearer, Marcus Riddell, and Anthony Catalani voted no.
“They’ve already installed a certain portion of that,” borough manager Roger Powl said while introducing the proposal. “Our engineer has said we can deduct a portion of that off because it’s successfully been installed.”
Riddell didn’t elaborate on his reasons during the meeting, citing interruption from another council member. On Wednesday, he posted in the Palmyra Area News Facebook group about his decision.
“I have requested that a water truck be on-site numerous times to elevate the dust from our residents’ properties,” Riddell posted. “Due to the fact the stormwater system will have to be adjusted to accommodate the extra large amount of stormwater coming out of the development and will be a large cost to the borough (at a minimum of six figures), which I feel the developer should incur some of this cost due to they are causing this extra water runoff.”
Shearer said at the meeting that she was a “no for anything with them.”
Catalani said that said they have been asking for time extensions and, after a back-and-forth, mentioned other reasons but said that he didn’t see the point in outlining them when the motion had already passed.
Council member Jane Quairoli said she wasn’t sure if maintaining the original amount of financial security was legal, and Powl said it “probably” wouldn’t be.
“The reason of financial security for a project is to make sure that certain things are done,” Quairoli said. “If certain things are done, legally, that’s their money.”
The other action item of the night, PennDOT’s winter maintenance agreement for North Grant Street, requires the borough to handle winter maintenance in exchange for $4,013.76 during the first year. The agreement is for 3.7 miles of snow lanes, with the borough responsible for removing snow and ice and providing and applying de-icing and anti-skid treatments.
“They’ve adjusted it significantly because it used to be about $1,900,” Powl said. “Considering the last few years we’ve only spread salt a couple of times, it’s a pretty good deal.”
The amount PennDOT will pay to the borough will increase each year — $4,094.04 for the second year, $4,175.92 for the third year, $4,259.44 for the fourth, and $4,344.63 for the fifth.
Council also discussed the Share Park project, which is bringing a food pantry, community space and 12 apartments to the 800 block of East Broad Street.
LebTown reported on this project in July and noted the Caring Cupboard could break ground this year and see the location open in the summer of 2025.
Read More: Transformational Palmyra project gets $250K in funding for affordable housing
Powl said the Aug. 28 planning commission meeting will bring a more solid plan regarding the apartments above the pantry, which he said were targeted toward homeless veterans in the area.
Palmyra’s Borough Council will meet next on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at 325 S Railroad St. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County Pennsylvania YouTube page.
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