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PLAINS TWP. — For the second month in a row, the Board of Commissioners heard a string of complaints from residents regarding the condition of Penny Lane in the Strawberry Fields development during Thursday’s regular meeting.
Road maintenance of the private development, created by Harry Salavantis in 1991, is the responsibility of the developer.
Several residents have complained that the road was never properly salted or plowed this winter until after a car accident spurred Salavantis into action. They would prefer to see the township assume responsibility for the road’s upkeep.
Township officials, however, will not take over the road until it is up to their specifications. Representatives from the Borton Lawson Engineering firm are currently reviewing original blueprints from the inception of the development and will survey the road to gauge what might need to take place in order for the township to take over the road.
The road currently has a number of cracks, two of which are so severe that they effectively act as speed bumps.
The residents in the area also claim that Salavantis is non-responsive when they attempt to meet with him to work toward a resolution.
Township Solicitor Stephen Menn stated that he has not yet been in touch with Salavantis, who was not available for comment despite multiple phone calls to him on the Friday following the meeting.
When resident Phil Latinski, speaking on behalf of other residents, asked what recourse they might have, Menn refrained from giving legal advice but shared his similar experience representing a group of Yatesville residents who ultimately settled out of court after a private developer allowed the roads to fall into a state of disrepair.
Latinski stated that the group of residents currently have no intention to bring the issue before the courts.
In other matters, officials announced the dates for this year’s clutter cleanup. Residents will be allowed to place up to eight items out for pickup after registering those items with the municipality.
The schedule is as follows
• Residents with Monday garbage pickup will have their clutter collected the week of April 27.
• Residents with Tuesday garbage pickup will have their clutter collected the week of May 4.
• Residents with Monday garbage pickup will have their clutter collected the week of May 11.
• Residents with Monday garbage pickup will have their clutter collected the week of May 18.
The commissioners will meet next at 7:30 p.m. on April 9.