DURYEA — Borough resident Gail Malloy has seen her fair share of dog feces littering the town and presented a solution to the problem at Tuesday’s borough council meeting.

Malloy asked the council members to consider dog waste stations throughout the borough, where dog owners can pick up bags and place dog feces in a bin attached to the station.

She cited various times walking through the area and around the dike along the Lackawanna River where she would try to avoid stepping in feces.

“It’s awful,” she said. “It’s really, really, really, really bad. It’s like playing hop scotch to get through.”

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According to information Malloy presented to council from zerowasteusa.com, one station would contain 400 dog waste bags and a lidded waste can.

One to four containers would cost $279 each, five to nine would cost $229 each, 10 to 24 would cost $199 each and 25 or more would cost $159 each.

Council president Ed Ameika said the idea is something for council to consider moving forward.

“I think it would be something to look into,” he said. “I don’t see any reason why not, and I would like to see it done.”

Ameika also action should be taken against for dog owners who don’t pick up after their pet.

“Where I live off Main Street, there is a sign that says ‘please pick up animal waste on it,’” he said. “There’s nothing on there about a fine or anything… but I do agree there should be stricter enforcement because there are people, and I’m one of them and I’ve picked up more dog waste in my life in Duryea from having a series of dogs, just like (Malloy) said. I walk places and in front of my house people are leaving dog waste. Getting somebody to enforce that and write a ticket on it, if they could do it, I’m 100 percent for it.”

In other business, the council members approved motions to:

• Hire eight part time police officers for the month of August.

• Accept an Act 101, Section 902 Recycling Development and Implementation Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the amount of $205,465 to reimburse recycling program development and implementation expenses.

• Appoint Frank Brosso to the borough sewer authority to a term set to expire Dec. 31, 2018.

• Appoint Ed Jones to the borough sewer authority to a term set to expire Dec. 31, 2020.

• Appoint Donna Holly as an alternate member to the civil service commission to a term set to expire Dec. 31, 2020.

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By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

What’s next?

The next Duryea Borough Council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the municipal building, 315 Main St.

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher