Ennis, Dibble resign from Monroe Borough Council

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)

Published: March 11, 2010

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Two members of the Monroe Borough Council recently resigned; one because he is dissatisfied with the direction that the council is moving in, and the other because he is moving out of town.

Republican Tim Ennis, who has served on the council since 2006, said he resigned earlier this month because he felt the council was blocking him from accomplishing things that needed to be done for the community.

For example, the council would not go along with his plan to begin setting aside money to "put a dike around Monroeton," which would be a major flood protection project, he said.

"I'm not a big fan of raising taxes, but we need to (raise taxes) a little at a time" to raise money for the flood protection project, he said.

Otherwise, when it comes time to build the dike, which has been planned for many years, borough residents won't know how they will afford it, he said.

While there are grants available to construct the dike, there will also have to be a contribution by the borough toward the project, he said.

Ennis also said he is in favor of creating a regionalized police force in central Bradford County involving the Towanda police, where the Towanda police would patrol Monroe Borough once in a while.

"Every time I brought it up, they (other members of the council) said, 'We'll look into it later,'" Ennis said.

"I know a lot of residents want a police presence (in Monroe Borough) ... although not necessarily a police force," he said.

The problem is that the state police, who provide police coverage in Monroe Borough, can take one or two hours before they arrive on scene, he said.

"I have nothing against the state police," Ennis added. "They do what they can" with the limited resources they have, he said.

Ennis also said the council is not adequately addressing the complaints of residents.

"A lot of times, residents would come to council meetings with complaints" that they wanted the council to address, Ennis said. "Very little or nothing was done to resolve (their complaints)."

"It was a pleasure to serve the residents," Ennis continued. He said that many times, when residents came to council meetings and didn't get their problem resolved, he would make an appointment to meet with the resident later to try to resolve their problem "as a person."

Ennis and Charles E. Dibble II both resigned from the council on March 1, said council vice-president Joan Grenell. Ennis' resignation was effective March 1, while Dibble's resignation was effective March 2.

Dibble resigned because he is moving out of the borough this month and therefore is no longer eligible to serve on the council, Grenell said.

Dibble, a Republican, has served on the council since 2008.

The council has 30 days to appoint two borough council members to replace Dibble and Ennis, Grenell said. A special meeting of the council will be held later month to appoint the new council members, she said.

The new council members will serve through 2011, said Bradford County Assistant Elections Director Renee Smithkors. If they wish to remain on the council after that, they will need to stand for election in 2001.

Anyone wishing to serve on the council can mail a letter of interest to Monroe Borough Council, P.O. Box 233, Monroeton, PA 18832, Grenell said.

Alternatively, applicants can leave a phone message at the borough office, at 265-3365, expressing interest in serving on the council, she said.

Still another way to apply for the position is to speak to a borough council member, Grenell said.

Applicants will be contacted by a council member, who will discuss the position further with the applicant, she said.

The date for the special meeting has not yet been set, Grenell said.

However, applicants need to apply soon for the position, as the council will probably hold its special meeting sometime next week, she said.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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