SAINT CLAIR - During the first meeting of the year, the borough council approved a motion for a stop sign to be placed on South Nicholas Street across from the former St. Casimir Church.
The stop sign will be installed today and the street department will also be painting the word "slow" on the road to warn drivers of the new traffic regulation.
The recommendation for a stop sign came after a complaint during December's meeting, when a resident said she feared children might be hit by a car speeding through.
During the meeting Tuesday, Mayor Robert Maley said that police Chief Michael P. Carey recommended against a stop sign being placed, as it could cause more problems than it would solve, but there was no reason given for the council's decision.
Carey had recommended "slow" and "children at play" signs instead.
Solicitor Edward Brennan recommended that if a stop sign is placed the borough would also need the engineer, Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, conduct a brief study.
In other business, borough engineer Brian Baldwin announced that the 2012 Road Program was complete and recommended the council approve the contractor's final payment in the amount of $27,521.65.
Baldwin said the borough saved thousands of dollars completing all the work at once, which included more than 300 truckloads of Superpave HMA wearing course were placed equating to more than 6,900 tons, 10,000 square yards of existing surface was milled, almost 1,700 square yards of pavement was fully reconstructed, 34 inlets were either installed or replaced, 179 ADA ramps were installed, and the Third Street basketball courts were resurfaced.
The total cost of construction, $1,379,082,67, was $20,545.84 less than the awarded amount.
On Dec. 14, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources notified the borough that it did not award the borough grand funding for the Southward Tennis Court project.
The next application period will begin Jan. 12 and end April 4, which the borough council needs to consider potential projects for the February meeting, and DCNR was said to most likely fund playground improvements, Baldwin said.
An executive session was also held at the end of the meeting to discuss the Blythe Recycling and Demolition Site Landfill litigation to seek alternatives and make recommendations on how council will proceed.