Normandy resolves
its bumpy roads

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

The Philadelphia Department of Streets last week finally addressed shoddy paving jobs performed on Normandy Drive and Nestor and Norcom roads in 2006.
The Normandy Civic Association, however, voted to wait until spring of 2008 to get the work corrected.
At the request of Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.), chief highway engineer Kevin Koch attended Thursday’s meeting and apologized for the poor work.
Koch blamed the fact that the mistakes remain uncorrected more than 18 months after the fact on insufficient funds, not ignorance.
"I apologize for the mess they made in ’06," Koch said. "There are issues outside my control."
Koch originally said that the department would fix the job in May 2006. He now says that funding constraints forced the streets department to use the remainder of its paving budget for jobs in other parts of the city.
"I was asked not to use this process up in this part of the city," Koch explained.
Koch said the department now stands to get additional funds because voters approved a May 15 primary-ballot question that authorizes the city to borrow $130 million to spend on transportation, buildings, recreation and community and economic development.
The approval of the bond issues allows the streets department to approve contracts for paving jobs beginning in July. Normandy could have seen its streets repaved by the end of the summer, but only if residents had opted for the Hot-in-Place Recycling method, which involves using a truck to heat and compact existing pavement in one shot.
O’Neill has adamantly opposed using the system in his district, saying it’s a noisy and potentially dangerous option.
The conventional milling process involves two-parts: removing, or milling, the old asphalt, which a private company does, and laying new asphalt, which the streets department handles.
Koch said, however, that he couldn’t get crews out to do the conventional method until spring 2008. Civic association president John Wisniewski supported the later date.
"I don’t think we should get the machine here," he said. "We can get more problems."
One resident asked if Koch ever reprimanded the city workers who did the faulty repaving job. Other residents wanted assurance that the workers who do the next repaving will do it right.
"They know how to do the job," Koch said.
In other news from the June 14 meeting:
• The civic group presented service awards to three community liaisons: Peg Recupido, legislative aide to O’Neill; Vince Furlong, legislative aide to state Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.); and Steve Carr, community relations officer for the 8th Police District.
• Civic association treasurer Diane Sadler is unhappy with landscaping at a newly installed island on Nestor Road.
Sadler claims that the landscaper didn’t install the proper fabric to prevent growth of grass through the island and that the company put in the wrong plants. The island cost $3,000 to create.
The civic group’s board sent a letter to the company asking the owner to correct the measures.
• The civic group plans to host a summer party at Normandy Park on Saturday, July 21, from 1 to 9 p.m. The event will include activities for children and adults and refreshments. The money raised will go toward cleaning the park.
The civic group will also hold a fund-raising gala on Friday, Oct. 26, at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Tickets are $35.
Residents seeking information on either event can contact Wisniewski at 215-673-9512. ••
The Normandy Civic Association will recess for the summer.
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com