Credible Reasons Sought for Media Bridge Work Delay

In May 2011, a stipulation agreement was signed by the entire Media Borough Council that settled the Third Street Dam issue.

At that time, all members of Council, both Republicans and Democrats, understood that by signing this agreement, we were now able to move the Third Street Bridge project forward, closing an issue the plagued the borough and its residents for 16 years.

This document put into place a "responsible party" for all future maintenance and repairs for the bridge. The county was responsible for their 1/3 part, Broomall's Lake Country Club their 1/3 part, and Media Borough was to maintain the surface and substructure. This agreement enable PennDot to restart the design phase project which was 50 per cent completed. The stipulation allowed the project to move forward without delay. Borough Council was advised that the project could start construction in 2014.

When we signed the stipulation we did so with the full knowledge of what the implications were and we made our vote based on what was the best way to serve the borough  and its residents.

Not once, during the last 15 years, has anyone ever complained about the dam design or making the Third Street Bridge one way. In fact, there are currently six members of council that all agreed with the original dam design and restoring the road to re-establish it as a two lane, two-way roadway to serve both the people of Media Borough and our neighboring municipalities as well as our school district.

How could you sign and support a document that became legally binding in July 2011 if you did not understand that you were re-establishing the roadway? How irresponsible it is to have council people not have full knowledge of all the implications such a document conveyed?

I, as a member of council, a taxpayer, and a business owner in Media Borough, along with my present councilmember Dawn Roe, and my former council members, are greatly disappointed in my fellow councilpersons over the decision to delay the Third Street Dam project by patronizing a small vocal minority determined to keep their street private. There are obvious signs of conflict of interests here, and reliance on a ridiculous petition that claimed the park would be destroyed if the dam were rebuilt.

There needs to be credible explanations by the majority of Borough Council as to how this occured, and we welcome the public to come and hear them.

MONIKA REHORIC

Councilperson, Media

PETE ALYANAKIAN

JAMES J. CUNNINGHAM

Former Media Borough Councilman