Tuesday's Coplay council workshop was a bit like a family meeting.

Several residents – including some with relatives on council – addressed their elected officials about requirements to construct or repair curbing and sidewalks.

The borough sent letters Oct. 11 to 12 residents of Ruch Street, 22 residents of Cherry Street, the fire department on Cherry Street and one resident of Chestnut Street. The letters inform homeowners they must install sidewalks if they don't have them or make required repairs to curbing and sidewalks by April 30, 2014. In May, Ruch Street will be repaved as part of a joint project involving Whitehall Township and the Coplay-Whitehall Sewer Authority.

"Sidewalks were not required when the street was constructed in the mid 1960s," said David Sodl – cousin of Councilman Charles Sodl. "I do not believe they are needed now."

Sodl, of 131 S. Ruch St., said there is "minimal pedestrian traffic" on the Coplay side of the street with most walkers using the Whitehall side where sidewalks are already installed.

David Burker of 5 N. Ruch St. – brother to Councilman Steve Burker and brother-in-law of Councilman David Royer – said residents already are dealing with increased property taxes due to the Lehigh County reassessment. Because many residents live from paycheck to paycheck, Burker asked if the borough could finance the work in order to give residents more time to pay.

"For some of us homeowners, including me, we have a mortgage, home equity loan, car loan or some other type of loan. We'd like to get out of debt, not more in debt," Burker said.

Alex Tamerler of Orefield, representing the estate of Rudoph Himmler at 207 S. Ruch St., said having to repair curbing and sidewalks will adversely affect the sale of the property. The topography of the lot will make the project even more expensive.

He also said it's safer for pedestrians to use the other side of the street.

Richard Stonage of North Whitehall Township addressed council on behalf of his mother-in-law, Anna Kowalchuk of 215 S. Ruch St.

He said contractors have told him proper installation of sidewalks will involve regrading a large portion of her yard. He also expressed concern about ordinances requiring residents to clear snow from sidewalks after a storm because of his mother's age and health.

Addressing residents' concerns

"I understand how everybody feels," said council President Lou Bodish, whose father-in-law lives on Ruch Street. "I know there's ... people here on council who do have families that live down on Ruch Street ... My father-in-law has no money and he has to replace 50 feet of curbing and sidewalks."

Bodish estimated the costs to be less than $30 a foot for curbing and $50 a foot for sidewalks.

"I feel that the group should get together and try to get one contractor and I guarantee you will get a cheaper rate," he said.

Addressing Burker, Bodish said the borough cannot finance the group of residents because it's not fair to taxpayers, who would bear the responsibility for the loan.

He also said the borough was unable to notify residents sooner because officials were waiting for information from Whitehall. Whitehall plans to actually do the paving in May after the CWSA installs sewer pipes.

"We don't have a set date yet," Bodish said, indicating May is just an estimate. "It might even get pushed back. We don't even know that. But May is the date they're telling us."

"We're at their mercy," said Councilman Charles Sodl.

Borough Secretary-Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek said she will call Whitehall and ask the township to push back paving until June in order to give residents a little more time.

The question of discretion

"I respectfully ask Coplay Borough Council to reconsider and grant exceptions for hardships as the ordinance explains that you have the ability to do," said David Sodl.

Residents have to install sidewalks whenever the borough "shall so require," he said, quoting from the ordinance.

"To me that means it's at your discretion," he said.

He argued the borough has made a lot of exceptions since the ordinance was adopted in 1957.

Charles Sodl told his cousin he looked into it and found the borough had granted no exceptions for sidewalks during the past 10 years.

"I said the last 56 years," said David Sodl.

"Why don't we go for 100?" countered Charles Sodl. "You were there 48 years, maybe each year you should have put a block in."

After some continued debate, Charles Sodl said, "I'm not here to cause a big fuss about something. Whatever we can do to help you we'll help you."

"I asked you to entertain it because from me reading the ordinance it seems like you are able to decide," David Sodl said. "I don't have a problem with you requiring it. I have a problem with you saying you can't change the ordinance because you can."

"We are reasonable," said Charles Sodl. "We're people just like you."

Bodish said council will vote next week on waiving the permit fees for installing sidewalks in order to allow residents to save a little money.

"We're trying to help in the ways that we can," Bodish said.

When David Sodl and others in the audience asked why the borough did not notify residents earlier, Charles Sodl said it's silly to talk about what could have or should have been done.

Having served on council for the past year, he said, he has found that things are never as simple in government as they are in an individual household.

"With government, it gets so complicated," he said. "So let's concentrate on what we can do, going forward, work together and get it handled."