Motorists who enter Palmerton will be glad to know a portion of Delaware Avenue that has become a washboard due to various bumps in the road is scheduled for improvements.

The matter was brought up for discussion by resident Adam Malik, who questioned borough council on Thursday about the condition of the road as motorists enter the downtown business district.Malik, the husband of Councilwoman Sherri Malik, asked council how it plans to fix the bumps on the road, specifically in front of Shea's Hardware store in the 200 block of Delaware Ave.Councilman Chris Olivia said the matter should be addressed at some point."We're on the list," Olivia said. "They're going to mill it down from Spillane's (variety store) down to the stop light."Olivia said the work is on the state Department of Transportation's list of to do projects."Delaware Avenue is on the five-year plan to get the whole street blacktopped," he said. "It's a state highway."Adam Malik also expressed concerns with vehicles that exit alleys."We keep exiting into alleys. When do we say this has to become a one-way street for safety?" he asked. "We keep bringing more traffic into these alleys. I think they should enter Delaware, not exit. I think it's a safety issue."Malik then questioned whether the borough has any money set aside for snow removal because the alleys are "impassable" after a winter storm.But, council President Terry Costenbader told Malik the borough's roads are in much better shape after a winter storm than in most local municipalities.Borough Manager Rodger Danielson said the borough does place more of an emphasis on clearing the main streets before it does alleys."We do prioritize our traffic routine," Danielson said. "The business district has always been the priority."Malik said the borough should take after Lehighton, which requires a permit for snow removal."I think you should let the storekeepers be responsible," Malik said. "It doesn't cost anything, but you're registered."Costenbader told Malik he understood the concerns."We're not perfect; we know that," Costenbader said. "It's something to look into."Also on Thursday, council again heard from resident Paul Snyder, who resides at 1004 Charles Street.Last month, Snyder told council he was upset to see that borough workers have yet to remove a sign they put up on Edgemont Avenue near his property for street sweeping.At that time, council said it would take Snyder's concern back to a borough committee for review.Snyder asked whether the committee met to discuss the issue, to which Olivia said it didn't because he was under the impression things were fine.Councilman Kris Hoffner then asked if the signs could be moved so that they're "less of an eyesore to the property owners."But, Danielson said all signs that are placed are located fairly close to intersections all throughout town.Regardless, Snyder said no sign should be placed there because cars aren't parked there."If you were to ask the street-sweeper, he would tell you nobody parks there, ever," Snyder said. "When I look out my kitchen window, it's like why is a sign here?"Danielson said he understood Snyder's concern, but reiterated his prior stance on the matter."All through town, we have that same situation where you enter traffic," Danielson said. "It is a consistent pattern where we place the signs."Olivia said the sign wasn't right at Snyder's home."It's up the street from him," Olivia said. "It's not at the Snyders."Danielson told Snyder that while he believes that he doesn't park there, others could."We've had a standard sweeping system for 10 to 15 years," Danielson said. "That is the only way we can keep the streets effectively swept."Still, Snyder said he had a problem with the situation."It seems to me that the people that don't violate the law are the ones that get punished," Snyder said. "It's absurd."Olivia said he would meet with Snyder at his home, and then go back to the committee to review what he's observed.In an unrelated matter, Mayor Brad Doll announced that he now has a computer in his office thanks to assistance from Sherri Malik and borough code enforcement officer Larry Zawaly.Doll said the computer was donated by Pencor Services, Inc.