Residents raise graffiti, speeding, alley and sinkhole concerns; police urge reporting

Residents used the meeting’s public‑comment periods to press the council and staff on public‑safety and maintenance issues across Palmyra, including vandalism at Memorial Park, speeding and motorcycles, alley damage behind the Caring Cupboard, trash lids left open during storms, and an open sinkhole at Ketch Pond.

A resident who identified her address as 233 East Hamble Street described extensive graffiti inside the Memorial Park pavilion and said motorcycles and speeding had increased on streets including Grant and Spruce. Chief Winters responded that residents should call the police when they see incidents so staff can narrow time windows and review camera footage: "When people called us, what did we do? We took care of it. We started issuing citations," he said.

Other residents raised alley and paving problems near the Caring Cupboard and asked whether scheduled paving would include those alleys. Borough public‑works staff confirmed paving is scheduled to begin in April and said they had noted the condition and intended to include problem alleys in the work plan where feasible. One resident reported a 4–5 inch drop from blacktop to the scraped alley surface and asked for priority repairs.

Several residents complained that trash and recycling truck crews sometimes leave bin lids open during windy weather, allowing material to blow into alleys. One commenter said crews appear to vary by day and sometimes leave lids open; others said they regularly see crews close lids. No formal change in vendor practice was recorded at the meeting; staff took the comments under advisement.

Multiple residents asked about an open pond/sinkhole in the Ketch Pond development that they said has been exposed for months and may pose a hazard to children. A borough official said the owner of record remains the homeowner‑association/developer address; the borough’s enforcement process is to send a notice letter giving the owner a set period to fix the hazard and, if the owner fails to act, the borough can perform the work and charge the owner. The transcript records a staff explanation that a letter and a 30‑day cure period were the next step.

Why it matters: graffiti, speeding and open sinkholes raise public‑safety concerns; alley and paving problems affect accessibility for residents and deliveries; loose trash lids lead to litter and public‑health complaints. Council and staff encouraged direct reporting to law enforcement and codes enforcement so the borough can investigate and pursue enforcement where appropriate.

What’s next: staff indicated planned paving this spring and reiterated the enforcement pathway for dangerous open features; residents were directed to submit addresses and details so staff can follow up.