Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • June 20, 2012 Waldwick The intersection of West Prospect Street and Hopper Avenue in Waldwick will not become a four-way stop intersection, at least not just yet. The borough council tabled the enabling ordinance following comments opposing the change during last week’s public hearing. “It’s an imperfect solution in search of a problem…and it can have unintended consequences,” former Mayor Frank McKenna told the mayor and council. He asked that the governing body go back to the police department and see if circumstances have changed at the busy corner. At present West Prospect is the through street, with stop signs posted at Hopper Avenue, which is the busier of the two streets. The corner is near two schools, the athletic fields and the Waldwick Pool. “The problem does not exist as three-years ago. People are realizing it is dangerous, and they are stopping. The extra police presence there is good, and you have added ‘dangerous intersection’ signs. Drivers are slowing down and making sure they have clear passage,” said McKenna, who said he drives through the intersection several times a day. “People are not sure who has the right of way, and you’ll have more indecision with a four-way stop,” he said. The former mayor’s comments were echoed by David Byers of Bohnert Court. “The major problem at the intersection is hesitation, and a four-way stop will increase that,” said Byers. “It may cut down on the occasional fender bender, but it will create chaos,” he added. Byers suggested that a blinker signal “would be much more obvious.” He also said that better traffic control at school dismissal time would also improve Borough council tables 4-way stop ordinance traffic flow, which “backs up absurdly.” Police Lt. Ed Weber, who had made the original presentation on the intersection to the mayor and council, will be asked to reevaluate the intersection and report back at a future date. “We can go over other possibilities,” said Councilman Andrew Brennecke, acknowledging that the options are limited. Prior to the beginning of the public hearing, Councilman Don Sciolaro said that the ordinance was being proposed in the interest of improved safety and that if approved, the change would be on a trial basis and “would not be set in stone.” The change would still have needed the approval of the NJ Department of Transportation. The “multi-way stop” was prompted by a presentation by Lt. Weber to the mayor and council in April. Weber said in his report that of the 12 traffic accidents reported at the intersection in the last three years, none was fatal or serious, and none involved pedestrians, even though there is substantial foot traffic there. He said most accidents took place during the evening rush hour, and none involved alcohol. On average, Weber’s report said, 328 cars travel on Hopper Avenue per peak hour, and 220 on West Prospect. Allendale Scouts sing out Cadette Girl Scouts Sophia, Nina and Kiya from Troop 594 led the audience in traditional and camp songs at a recent Allendale Campfire Singalong held at the campfire circle behind the Red Barn in Crestwood Park. Dana, an Ambassador Girl Scout, assisted them. Held each spring, this event is open to all Girl Scouts and their families.