Residents press Wallington for fixes at Main and Maple; mayor orders temporary speed enforcement

Peter Galecki and his daughter Nicole Galecki told the Wallington Mayor and Council they are worried about safety at the intersection of Main Avenue and Maple Avenue, saying vehicles parked along the curb and yellow line obstruct sightlines and create hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians. Peter Galecki presented photographs and suggested enforcement tools used in neighboring towns, including so‑called “Safety Stick” camera poles, as a deterrent.

Mayor Melissa Dabal said the intersection has been on the borough’s radar and reminded the council that rapid flashing pedestrian beacons for Main and Maple had already been ordered. After consulting with Borough Attorney Mark Dipisa, the mayor said a temporary speed enforcement detail will be implemented in the area to address speeding and driver compliance. “Officers in plain clothes attempted to cross at a marked crosswalk to observe driver compliance,” the mayor said, noting that vehicles frequently failed to yield.

Nicole Galecki described morning visibility problems when exiting her residence at 53 Main Ave., saying parked cars along the yellow line often block the view of oncoming traffic. The mayor said the borough is exploring installing an additional crosswalk near the bowling alley and is pursuing grant funding to help cover costs and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

The council did not vote on a permanent engineering change at the meeting; the immediate actions described by the mayor are enforcement and evaluating additional crossing infrastructure, with further steps contingent on available grant funding and follow‑up by borough staff.