Although the March 2 borough council meeting began pleasantly with thanks for the incredible diligence of public works through this dreadful winter season, other matters were not met with quite so much ease.

The issue of Ms. Maria Melendez and her appeal of a handicap-parking request, after already being shut down months prior, was tabled at this meeting. Council members argued fervently amongst themselves after Melendez's sister in-law Carmen Melendez spoke on her behalf. "Everyone can have a right in the borough," said Melendez, explaining her in-law's case for a handicap parking sign outside her house as she suffers from serious back pain.

Council member Carolee Gifford empathized saying, "Every step hurts, doesn't it?" However, Council member Fred Capuano explained that to put the sign in front of their house would interfere with the line of sight. Meanwhile, placing the sign on a neighbor's property would devalue it. And so the council argued, Council member Helen Halleman pointing out that "if it hurts so bad, why doesn't she get a cane or a wheelchair," thus eliminating the purpose for a sign altogether.

Melendez said she does not need either one. And while the members argued back and forth on what to do, Capuano very calmly compromised to table the issue so as to give the necessary time to find a solution that suited everyone.

Another hot topic followed when discussing the resignation of a junior council member Shannon Pabon. The high school student felt the need to leave after a certain misunderstanding between her and Halleman took place.

At no point during the meeting did anyone explain the exact words exchanged between Pabon and Halleman, but Halleman found grounds to feel very insulted while the rest of the council sought to reconcile things and write a formal apology to the high school student. Gifford felt that Pabon was, "a bright addition to our council," with Capuano chiming in to say, "I think we should send her a letter."

But Halleman was relentless and requested that the student be put on formal trial. She wanted an apology for being so insulted, to which the exhausted Council member Norman Blatt Jr. replied, "You can't be insulted, you're too contrary."

Alas, however the depth or perceived depth of the offense, Pabon's resignation was denied and the personnel matter was settled by majority vote.