Last Thursday, Trumbauersville Borough Council convened another special work session at the Trumbauersville Fire Company, updating residents on the eventuality of a recovery house at 20 E. Broad St. in the borough.

            Council President Edward Child explained that council felt it best to have any questions or concerns addressed in a public meeting.

            "We felt it was appropriate to give you first-hand information, whatever that information is, because second hand information isn't always reliable."

            Child noted that council talked with five attorneys to seek guidance around the issue of a recovery house in the borough.

            "They all told us the same thing," Child said. "You can't really stop a recovery house."

            Given that pronouncement, several residents still voiced concerns and frustration.

            Child then explained that Andrew and Angela Sullivan have indicated they will participate in the certification process through the Pennsylvania Alliance of Recovery Residences (PARR).

            "When they work the way they are supposed to, there usually aren't any problems. If you backslide, they remove you and take you back to a treatment facility," Child said of the PARR-certified recovery houses.

            Several residents questioned the inspection process and newly appointed solicitor Colby Grim cautioned that PARR participation is voluntary. Wesley Combs asked council to reconsider investing money into fighting the recovery house.

            "I keep hearing it's not worth our taxes going up," Combs said. "What are we going to do if one child gets hurt?"

            "What we've seen in all the lawsuits so far is that, at the end you get hit with paying all of their attorney's fees and costs," Grim explained.

            Resident Michele Daley suggested they refocus energy on making sure the recovery house does not become an issue for borough residents.

            "They are legally within their rights to put this in place," Daley said. "What can we do as a community to educate ourselves?"

            The meeting opened with adoption of a resolution that officially engages the law firm Grim, Biehn and Thatcher to represent the borough.  Colby Grim will serve as borough solicitor with Peter Nelson as alternate.

             Child also informed attendees that council has been looking into the possibility of using cell phone tower lease payments to contract with an area regional police department for additional coverage.