STAYING PUT
Coudersport Boro won't trade land, move arboretum, caboose

The Coudersport Borough Council derailed an offer that included moving the arboretum and C&PA Railroad caboose during their meeting Wednesday night.

Tom Majot made the offer, which involved trading the piece of property adjacent to Sheetz for two and a half acres on Vine Street where the Adelphia modulars set, during February's council meeting.

Members of the arboretum committee were on hand to give testimonials on the importance of the arboretum to Coudersport.

Louis Karija, department of public works director, said he had spoken with committee chairman Dick Buchanan, who told him that around $75,000 had already been spent on the arboretum and another $10,000 more had already been received from a grant.

Karija said that Buchanan told him that if the arboretum were to move he and most of the members would resign from the committee.

Mike Kallenborn, of Pine Valley Landscaping, gave a brief presentation on the current plans to enhance the arboretum.

One of the main components to the arboretum's master plan involves tying into the Sheetz parking lot with a walkway. People are parking on Vine Street and then cutting across the arboretum, which is damaging the shrubs, explained Kallenborn.

Another portion of the master plan involves bringing in color in the form of flowers that will help draw attention to the arboretum, he said.

"The caboose is a main focal point when coming into town, and we want to enhance it," Kallenborn said.

He also gave another small presentation on landscaping plans for the American Legion Wall of Honor.

Once the discussion had ended, a motion to reject the offer was passed unanimously to the approval and applause of many supporters in attendance.

The discussion quickly moved to the West Street boulevard.

Borough Manager Marlin Moore pointed out that he had made a mistake in giving information that appeared in the March 12th edition of the Potter Leader-Enterprise. Moore told the Enterprise that the council had unanimously approved to remove the dividers, when the council only approved investigating the matter.

Bruce Wilson said that the divider has been a nuisance since it was installed.

"There were comments of it looking nice," he said. "It did once, but not anymore."

Shane Wilson pointed out that if the borough does decide to keep the dividers, a better job of maintaining them needs to be done.

Councilman Wayne Hathaway said that if the dividers stay maintenance will have to be done to the ends. He also said that the dividers should be shortened to better allow large vehicles to turn onto West Street from crossing streets.

Councilman Gerry Chitester said he received an estimate of $111,000.from Blades Construction Company of Belmont, N.Y. The estimate included the demolition of the dividers and building the road surface.

"We definitely have better projects to spend that money on," said Councilman Brian Phelps.

Kathy Kinnard suggested the council seek community service organizations to maintain the dividers, adding that the arboretum receives a lot of support and donations of time and supplies.

The council did not make a decision on the dividers, although the discussion had shifted from removal to maintenance.

Kevin Bailey of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was on hand to answer questions that the council had on the Fourth and Seventh street bridge projects.

The council questioned the historical relevance of the Seventh Street Bridge, which the plans call to be moved to Fourth Street and not be used.

"To me it is ludicrous to have this project to move this bridge and not use it," said Hathaway. "I want to see how many people in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, N.J., are going to come to Coudersport to see this historic bridge."

Chitester pointed out the only reason in the plan for having a bridge at Fourth Street is because it is historic.

"We're paying $500,000 for it to sit there and rust," he said.

Bailey pointed out that saving one of the bridges was the mitigation for replacing both in the original contract discussions with the historical groups.

The plans in 1999 called for removable posts to be placed in the bridge that could be taken out to allow vehicular traffic to cross it, he said.

Solicitor Dan Glassmire asked what it would cost to bring the bridge up to code after the current project was completed.

Bailey estimated around $111,000, but said he had not seen the inspection reports and did not know what repairs would be needed.

The borough will also be receiving help from the state in gathering the right of ways needed for the project, Bailey said. The process will begin around June, and the acquisitions should be wrapped up by January.

Bailey said the project will begin summer of 2009, with the new Seventh Street Bridge being opened for traffic by the end of 2009.

Borough Police Chief Lee Gross reported that Officer Bill Wenzel had completed a TASER instructor course, and if and when the borough decided to purchase TASERs Wenzel could train the officers.

Phelps said the law enforcement agencies are looking to make a county purchase of TASERs, and that the borough would be purchasing four units.

The $875 per unit is "a lot cheaper than a workman's compensation claim," he added.

Gross said that one of his main concerns with the weapons is the history, but the gun records every time it is used.

"What will happen if," was all Hathaway could ask before Glassmire answered, "Of course you'll get sued."

Glassmire said the suits are very fact and case sensitive, and that they are based off the definition of "reasonable force" in every situation.

Gross added that he could think of three instances in the last year in which borough officers could have used the TASERs.

"The (Route 6) detour is driving several hundred people nuts," Gross said. "A lot of people need retrained" on how to drive the streets in Coudersport.

The council approved a letter of resignation from Gary Willowski, who sat on the borough water authority.