At Monday’s regular meeting, council defeated a motion to rescind an address change to nearly 40 street addresses, including 11 that converted from Beechwood Boulevard to Constitution Avenue.
The motion was proposed by Michelle Lamenza and supported by George Celli. The other five members voted against rescinding the change despite considerable backlash from several residents from Beechwood/Constitution, who felt the action was unnecessary and detrimental and accused council of targeting Beechwood and not responding to citizens’ concerns.
Several council members emphasized the decision was done in the interest of public safety at the urging from the Lawrence County government and a recommendation from borough police chief Rick Myers and ranking police officer Lt. Dave Kingston.
“Council is the enemy of the people of Ellwood City,” one resident said as he exited the meeting.
In 2016, county government originally presented the borough with over 100 address changes in the interest of public safety. Every address was deemed potentially confusing or difficult for emergency responders to find. The borough was given the option to change all, some or none. However, the borough manager and council didn’t act on the request.
Council member Rob Brough
In 2017, new council member Rob Brough, on the Public Safety Committee, met with Myers and Kingston to weed down the list. Among the changes were renumbering numerous addresses on Connoquenessing Terrace, changing several Rear Glen Avenue addresses to Apple Way, and reconstituting the upper stretch of Beechwood Boulevard.
At February’s meeting, a group of Beechwood residents requested council reconsider the change, citing problems including numerous document changes and decreased property values. In addition, they were confused as to how Lawrence County could recommend a change to property in Beaver County.
David High and Mark Tomaszewski proposed placing a sign at the intersection of Beechwood and Constitution clearly displaying all addresses on upper Beechwood.
They returned in April with an attorney, Al Torrence, who argued that the change could decrease property values due to Beechwood Boulevard’s name carrying a certain gravitas. As such, Torrence questioned the legality of council unilaterally changing the addresses.
Lamenza said she had spoken with Lawrence County officials who agreed the street name change wasn’t necessary and that less drastic solutions were available.
Council vice president Jim Barry stated he was primarily concerned with borough liability and the decision was nothing personal. He added he was willing to reopen the decision for discussion.
Brough said that according to Myers, several residents had already complied with the changes, including a few on the new section of Constitution Avenue. He also read a letter from Meyers dated June 18 supporting the decision and said he had spoken with a county official who did support the change.
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