Winter cold besides, Gail Tucker, Greater Honesdale Partnership, announced plans to Borough Council at their January 12th meeting, to re-landscape the garden area in front of the Park & Shop Lot.
A professional landscaper would do the work, including cleaning out shrubbery beds, removing Vinca trees and Myrtle, and doing a soil test. Salvageable shrubs and trees will be trimmed and pruned, and new shrubs will be planted as well as 500 bulbs- mostly Daffodils and Tulips, of various colors.
 Tucker asked for assistance from the Department of Public Works for some aspects, including watering and maintenance once the new garden is in.
New shrubs are expected to include Gold Thread Cypress, Crimson Pygmy Barberry, Blue Star Juniper, PJM and Burning Bush. She said the goal is to have year round color.
She stated in her letter to Council, “As this area is often referred to as the town’s center, we believe that the impression that it gives to first time visitors and our local residents is helpful to their overall good feeling towards our community.”
Traffic flow
• Pat Resti, Leeward Construction Project Manager for the Church Street Bridge Project, said that demolition of the upstream side of the 4th Street bridge continues. Work is being done to prepare for concrete pouring when the weather breaks.
Asked about traffic flow, Resti said that PennDOT has done all they can do, and it was up to drivers to follow the rules, stopping at stop bars and obeying signals. He said he observes all day, people trying to run the yellow light and jamming the intersection. Fire Chief Stan Pratt commented that one factor is that people passing through cannot see the other signal at the opposite end of the 4th Street bridge.
White Mills fire truck
• Chief Pratt spoke about the unfortunate crash of the White Mills fire engine, Sunday, on the way to a fire. He stated that he has offered to place any Honesdale Fire Department apparatus on the first alarm box, which would be sent automatically to any White Mills Fire Department emergency, as required. Alternatively, Pratt suggested that if approved by Alert Hook & Ladder No. 2, perhaps Alert’s unused fire engine could be offered for loan to White Mills Fire Department. The fire engine is currently up for sale and just needs to be inspected. Solicitor Matthew Meagher advised that White Mills Fire Department would have to add the engine to White Mills’ insurance policy.
• So far, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for this year is the same as last year’s, for the Borough, $86,3499. Among projects that may be sought for funding are paving of Vine Street and 15th Street.
• The Borough Parking Committee will be asked to review the rates for the parking lot leased in back of St. Mary’s church. Councilman Lee Garing suggested giving a discount for the lot since it so far down the street. “If we get one more car, we’ll double our customers,” he quipped. Tucker suggested instead, to revise everyone’s parking permit and require use of St. Mary’s lot if the permit holder is in the 500 or 600 block. “Reducing the fee would give preferential treatment to businesses at the lower end of town,” she said.
The Parking Committee will meet January 28 at 6:30 p.m., at the Wayne County Visitor’ Center Board Room.
Honesdale Council meets on the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 958 Main St., Honesdale. The office may be contacted at (570)253-0731.