SEVEN FIELDS — Residents weighed in on the borough’s plan to construct permanent speed bumps in the area at a council meeting Monday, March 13.

“I realize that some residents may seem to see this as an inconvenience, where some of the speed humps may be placed and in some of the reaction to those speed humps,” resident John Haddad said. “But I think this additional level of safety is for all of our borough residents and the people that use it.”

The borough awarded a $100,000 contract to Shields Asphalt Paving on Monday, Feb. 27, for the creation of 10 permanent speed bumps throughout the borough — as part of a traffic-calming project.

Resident Brian Manipole said he believed the speed bumps along Old Mars Crider Road are an unnecessary drain on taxpayer dollars.

“Years and years ago, we had these speed bumps; they were put in by taxpayer dollars, and I think they were found ineffective,” Manipole said. “I think years after, we decided, with taxpayer dollars, to take them back out due to ineffectiveness.”

Manipole said that the PennDOT traffic handbook advised against speed bumps because they hinder emergency services, cause drainage issues and can damage vehicles if not installed properly. He also said they were likely to cause noise complaints and hurt property values.

Resident Tracey LaPaglia agreed.

“The placement is my issue, being right next to my residence,” LaPaglia said. “I don’t want that noise at all near my house.”

The solution, according to Manipole, is filling vacant police positions and better policing the area. He also suggested looking into the use of stop signs.

“It’s been said a couple times about putting up stop signs,” said Kimberly Regan-Koch, council president. “That is not an arbitrary thing that you can just go and put up stop signs.”

Damian George, traffic engineer with ms consultants, said stop signs have “very, very specific guidelines.”

“It’s a big study you have to do,” George said. “You can’t just throw up the stop sign.”

Haddad said he believed the borough’s decision to go with the speed bumps was well-founded.

“They rely on information given by their experts and consultants,” he said, “but we also understand that they do take into consideration the health and welfare of the residents of the borough, which we really appreciate.”

Susan Santucci, a resident for more than 11 years, said that the borough has grown and brought more traffic since she moved into it — emphasizing the need to adapt to that.

“We have to have some way to at least help to slow people down,” she said. “I’m a nurse and, to be honest with you, I’m not as worried about the noise I hear as (of) a child getting hit on the street.”

The project is expected to begin construction in the coming months, but Regan-Koch said council would take the residents’ comments into consideration.

“The council, we hear all these and we want a solution that works for everybody,” Regan-Koch said. “Maybe speed humps where it’s not disturbing people, where it’s calming traffic — we just can’t throw stop signs up. So we take all this information and we are going to solve that issue.”