New library discussions will be held in private

MILFORD — Despite last month’s announcement to the contrary, borough and Pike County Public Library officials now are planning to take new library discussions behind closed doors. Library building task force chair Mayelyne Syracuse appeared before the borough’s architectural review board last month to restart the project’s approval process. Review board Chair Kevin Stroyan then proposed a new committee of library and borough officials “at the same table,” to hash out any differences arising from the project plans. He said he wanted to avoid the controversy of last spring, by having all the interested parties involved. That would include the library directors, the building task force, review board and borough council members. He emphasized that he planned these sessions to be open to the public. Borough President Matt Osterberg canned that idea on Monday evening. “Nothing’s going to get accomplished in the open. We need to be behind closed doors, without the press and cameras rolling,” he told his council colleagues. The subject arose as Osterberg, and councilmen Edward Raarup and Edward Loeschorn were named to sit on the new committee. Stroyan, along with members Don Quick and James McLaine, will serve for the architectural review board. Solicitor John Klemeyer noted that the committee was not a decision making group and would serve only for purposes of discussion of the project. Osterberg asked Borough Secretary Lizanne Samuelson to “find a place for the meeting and let everyone know.” After the meeting, Osterberg defended his decision. “You saw what happened here last spring. You’re not going to get anything done with a hundred people in the room. Not with all those personalities involved,” he said. Stroyan did not attend the borough council meeting. In other business, Osterberg and Councilman James Price said talks to combine the borough police with the new Eastern Pike Regional force serving Westfall and Matamoras are continuing. “If you ask me, I think we’re going to do it ... There may be savings, but we’re not going into this looking to save money. This will be a better force, with investigators and detectives,” Osterberg said. Asked about costs, Price said, “The most critical criteria is coverage, that coverage doesn’t decrease ... In this case service is more important than costs.” “Streets and Lights Committee chair, Councilman Bo Fean said he planned this spring to begin experimental initiatiation of the one-way outflow travel paths on alleys near congested parts of Harford and Broad streets.