The Bowmanstown Borough Council meeting began with a question, does the mayor have the authority to overrule a council decision?

Borough Constable Sandy Lizzio had been a paid to attend the meetings for four months before the council voted in March to not have the constable presence. Tuesday night's meeting found Lizzio in the borough building, leaving councilman Robert Moyer to question Bowmanstown solicitor Lisa Pereira, if Mayor William Ravert can take such an action."Can the mayor authorize the constable to be here? The council voted at the last meeting not to have him present," Moyer said."I had researched it before I did it," Ravert said."I'd like something in writing. What about the budget? Since the mayor has no authority over the budget, I'd like an answer on that," Moyer said.Pereira agreed to get back to the council with an official answer.The council then focused on the borough's roadways."The timing is right to move ahead with the survey on Lime Street. The current survey is out of date," borough engineer Jessica Rehrig said."The land doesn't change over time," said councilman Norman Engle Jr. "All I'm saying is I'd like to cut that cost of the engineering."Rehrig said the cost of the Lime Street survey will be an estimated $17,000, including the field survey, base mapping and submitting the record to the courthouse."I'd do it now so we can work on it in the summer. If you push it off there will be more of a crunch on time," Rehrig said.According to the engineer, grant money is already in place to cover the cost as long as the project is completed in a certain time frame."You have to have a completed project in order to qualify for the grant. It has to be open to the public," Rehrig said."Are we going to be able to get it stoned and based with the money we have? We have about 40 percent from the grant, correct," asked councilman Darren Thomas. "Do we have an erosion plan in place?""We need to do something with an open cut and swales. The design portion will take some time," Rehrig said. "If you're having problems with erosion and just trying to fix it, that's fine. But if you move to much dirt around without a permit, you'll have problems. But you can maintain all that without a permit.""We'd like to see Lime Street open. Supposedly we're going to hear from the state in the next four weeks. If we authorize the money, what's next," Engle asked."We do the survey and get information to develop a new concept and look at how to lower costs for stormwater management. The survey is crucial to get you the best designed product. All I'm asking is if you want an actual proposal put together," Rehrig said.Thomas said looking at the budget, the borough has liquid fuels money that could be used to help offset some of the cost on other projects."To get a drivable road, could we use money from general fund?" Thomas asked the board. "The fiscals haven't run negative.""It'd be very tight but I think it's feasible," councilman Burdell Steigerwalt said.Meadow Crest resident Michael Spairana had his own concerns about the roadways in the borough's subdivision."Craig, Oak, Sanders and Lime streets all need to be addressed. There hasn't been any work in Meadow Crest since the money was spent to pave half a road. I realize there's no money to do that right now but you have to have a plan before there's nothing left but stone and dirt. I realize it's a huge undertaking," Spairana said."Ninety percent of Bowmanstown, except Lincoln, are better then Meadow Crest," he said."As a committee we need to come up with a better plan," Moyer said."I understand it's a big undertaking, but it's a mess up there," Spairana said."We will research that," council President Kara Scott said.