During a recent public works committee meeting, discussions centered on two key initiatives: addressing false alarms in student housing and the Hometown Heroes banner project.

The committee revisited the issue of false alarms, particularly in student lodging, which has been a persistent problem. While previous efforts with BlueRock, a local organization, had reduced the number of false alarms, the committee acknowledged that repeat incidents at the same locations remained a concern. The committee decided to form a small subgroup to explore potential ordinances aimed at addressing the issue, emphasizing that residents would not be adversely affected as they are not the source of the problem.

In a separate discussion, the committee received an update on the Hometown Heroes banner project, which aims to honor local veterans. Julie Sarkovich presented details about the initiative, highlighting that banners will be printed by a local company and will feature the names, ranks, branches of service, and eras of service of the honored veterans. The banners will be made of durable materials and are expected to be displayed prominently in the community.

The borough manager reported that an application has been submitted to PPL for the use of utility poles to hang the banners, with an initial approval for 25 poles. The goal is to have the banners displayed by Memorial Day, with applications for sponsorship expected to be available by February. The committee anticipates high interest in the project, potentially exceeding the initial limit of 25 banners.

Overall, the meeting underscored the committee's commitment to addressing community concerns while honoring local heroes through the banner initiative.