Tempers flared during Lansford Borough Council’s Wednesday meeting with the primary election less than a week away.

Residents and candidates peppered council with questions and concerns during public comment, which consumed more than an hour of a more-than-two-hour long meeting.

Among the concerns raised by residents were: police response in a dog attack; skunks, rats and other vermin, selection of a new police chief, raising money for the police department, honoring officers during police week, council conduct, late fees and credit charges, agenda items such as new time clocks and borough CDs; parking complaints, the pool and splash pad and grants.

Last week, Councilwomen Michele Bartek and Jennifer Staines sparred during the workshop meeting, which one resident this week called disgusting.

This week, Council President Bruce Markovich and Lansford Alive President Chris Ondrus went back and forth in raised voices.

Markovich at one point referred to the nonprofit organization as “lousy” after one volley regarding taxpayers funding the train station and meetings of the former steering committee.

Another Lansford Alive member and council candidate Joe Genits jumped in, saying in a raised voice, “Thanks. Way to cooperate with a nonprofit,” as Markovich and Ondrus continued to argue.

Markovich is also a candidate for mayor, running against another Lansford Alive member.

Water bill payment

They continued with complaints over the borough’s custodianship of the train station, pointing to issues with heat and a possible water leak which caused a high water bill in the winter months.

They also discussed correspondence between the water authority and the borough over the bill. Markovich pointed out that the matter has not yet been resolved or the bill settled.

Ondrus wanted to know if the taxpayers would pay the $6,000 bill, or if council would split it up six ways among themselves. Markovich in a calm voice said he was trying to be nice.

Another council candidate, Patrick Walsh, said the borough should be allowed to address the problem, and asked Ondrus why he was making all these demands.

“Because it’s taxpayer money,” Ondrus said.

Walsh said there is a procedure that the borough has to go through, and Ondrus asked what that was. Markovich explained that he needs to respond to the authority about a potential resolution.

Genits wanted the original letter to the authority read into the minutes, and Ondrus demanded that someone go get the letter. Markovich told Ondrus that he does not give him orders.

Councilwoman Bartek said she obtained the letter with a Right to Know request to the authority, and she summarized and read the letter, which pointed out the borough and authority have an excellent working relationship and that the borough waived fees for the West Abbott Street project.

Markovich, when asked about how much those fees were, estimated the savings to the authority as well over $100,000.

Resident Tom Vadyak, who was just appointed by the borough to serve on the water authority, said he should move to stop allowing the use of authority equipment.

Markovich then went after Ondrus about costing the borough money, starting up the fray again, and Ondrus said he attended as a citizen and has the right to question council.

Volunteer feedback

Walsh was given the floor again, and pointed out that he has spoken to business owners and other talented, capable people who could volunteer their time and talents to the borough, but won’t, saying that they’re done trying.

“That’s because of this atmosphere,” he said. “We’re starving ourselves of a lot of talent. I’ve just been amazed at the attacks that are going on, not always at meetings, but in other places.

“We got people coming in and helping and really doing a good job, and they’re getting attacked and nitpicked,” Walsh said.

Mistakes happen, he said. Even $6,000 or $10,000 mistakes happen in any organization, and they have to go through the process to resolve them.

“This acrimonious exchange is starving us of potential talent,” Walsh said.

Resident Rose Mary Cannon then asked about the appointment of a deputy tax collector, and the process of the three taxing entities approving that selection.

Walsh explained that he was appointed as deputy tax collector, which would allow him to fulfill the functions of tax collector, if also approved by the taxing entities.

This appointment would ensure the borough wouldn’t be without a tax collector, which happened last year when the tax collector died, he said.

Cannon pointed out that she knew he needed to be approved by the taxing entities, and since that hasn’t happened yet, with that he’s not really the deputy.

Walsh disagreed, saying that he was the deputy, and there was a lot of case law on it and she should study it.

Genits jumped in, and told council that Walsh isn’t the deputy and that the tax collector doesn’t appoint the deputy, citing various forms and procedures.

Then, Genits and Walsh went back and forth over the procedure and statutes involving naming a deputy tax collectors, disagreeing with each other.

After a few minutes, Markovich asked them to exchange paperwork and allow council to move on with the meeting.

Genits and Walsh continued, and Markovich told them that the borough has to reach out the tax collector, Joseph Pavlis, to get it resolved with the county.