On Sept. 10, three East Hills MS cross-country runners were injured during practice when stuck by a car at the intersection of Santee and Chester roads, where there's a three-way stop sign. Two years ago, Bethlehem Township officials balked at a traffic study at that location because of its cost. But at their Oct. 6 meeting, they changed their mind.

By a 4-0 vote, commissioners unanimously decided to seek a traffic study on the need for a four-way stop sign at the site, which is near Freedom HS, East Hills, and the vo-tech school.

Although a stop sign could simply be added, solicitor Jim Broughal strongly recommended that a traffic study be performed first. He advised that installing a stop sign improperly could lead to liability. He added, believe it or not, that "[t]raffic signs cannot be used to control speed, just traffic."

Barry Roth, a tow truck operator who attends nearly every commissioners' meeting, disputed the need for either a study or a stop sign. Saying the accident rate there is low, he called a traffic study a "knee-jerk reaction." He was backed up by police Sgt. Daryl LaPointe, who said there have been only 11 crashes at that intersection over the past 10 years. Roth added the children there need more education on safety.

Those claims were disputed heavily by Doreen Connelly and Nathan Stannard, parents of the two children who were recently hit.

"Do we need to have a child in intensive care?" she asked.

Stonnard, whose son was thrown eight feet in the air by a car that left 28 feet of skidmarks, said that perhaps it's the drivers who need an education. "It's a very dangerous intersection."

Parent Robyn Guadagnino told commissioners she sees a "near miss" at the intersection nearly every day. "It's the kids taking chances, left and right."

Resident Don Wright reminded commissioners that a 14-year-old high school girl, a pedestrian, was stuck and killed while crossing Freemansburg Avenue in the Miller Heights section in 2005. He suggested several areas in the township would benefit from a traffic study.

Commissioner Tom Nolan, who advocated for a stop sign at this intersection seven years ago, moved for a traffic study. President Marty Zawarski wondered whether the school district would be willing to share in the cost, but Nolan cut him short.

"I don't put a dollar sign on safety," he argued.

Township Engineer Brian Dillman advised the board that PennDOT will endorse a stop sign at the location if any one of several conditions are present. These include high traffic, frequent accidents and reduced visibility. He added that a four-way stop sign is a precursor to a traffic signal.

In other business, the commissioners appointed Frank Grillo, a Bulldogs' assistant coach, to the Recreation Board. They also awarded police Officer David Spearko a monthly disability pension of $2,921.75. He was injured on the job in January 2012.

Finally, Manager Melissa Shafer announced that the township's new web page, http://www.bethlehemtownship.org/, has gone live. Among its features is a live chat function, which Shafer believes is a first for a local government in this area. She said she took seven chats herself. "It's very easy to find what you're looking for," she stated.

Commissioner Michael Hudak was absent.