Melissa Leinbach claims she learned of a proposal to build a parking garage for members of the Borough of East Greenville Police Department in an Aug. 13 email from Secretary/Treasurer Sharon Kachmar. She noticed the item on the enclosed meeting agenda.

"I'm usually aware of what's on it," Leinbach said Tuesday morning. "This was a surprise."

Three days later, Leinbach did her best to slow down a plan by East Greenville Council to spend up to $65,000 to construct a pole barn. On Monday, she objected to the timing of the recommendation. The council member said she needed more time to consider if Mayor Steven Wescott's proposal was necessary.

            "The whole thing happened too fast to approve," Leinbach said after the meeting.

            The council member expressed frustration with the communication among the members and the mayor during the meeting. Wescott admitted that he did not disclose the proposal to Leinbach.  "I assume a lot," the mayor told her. "I assumed you knew about this ahead of time."

            The members ultimately approved a motion dedicating $65,000 to the project. Leinbach voted against the measure.

            After the meeting, she declined to say if she felt blindsided by the entire episode. Leinbach also said she didn't consider a change in the language of the motion a victory.

"I don't see a difference," she said. "I would have liked more conversation."

            Initially, Westcott proposed spending the money to construct a pole barn near the police department. He said it was necessary because of evidence that people were "messing the police officers' vehicles at night."

After the meeting, the mayor chose not to respond to a question about how many vehicles would utilize the garage.

            "No comment," Wescott said.

            Leinbach remained skeptical, asking what happened to the fencing the borough purchased with the intent of installing around the police station. No one responded to her question.

            "This is really frustrating," she said.

Council has attempted to sell the fencing. According to an email message received Tuesday from Manager Jim Fry, municipal officials advertised the sale of the fencing but had no bidders. He wrote that they are considering using some of it to replace fencing at the water treatment plant.

            According to council President Angie Fegely, the proposal has already been considered by the municipality's finance and police committees. She added that the money could come out of the borough's savings.

            "We wanted to start this process tonight," Fegely said.

            Member Joe Rock suggested that council vote to approve the purchase so the garage could be constructed in the fall. He said the cement floor would have to be installed before the weather turns cold.

            "We want the money just in case we decide to move forward with this," Rock said. "We're trying to beat Mother Nature."

            Fegely added that a vote to approve the allocation would not guarantee a purchase. She said the members would vote again after the property committee approves the specifications and a contract for installation.

            "I'm not buying it," said Leinbach, who described a second vote on the allocation of funds as unnecessary. "This council is always pushing things off until next month. Why is this so important?"