Emotions hit the boiling point Thursday night as Apollo officials and business owners continue to seek a solution to the parking meter controversy.
New meters were installed as part of the downtown plaza renovation.
The borough collected $6,831 in meter revenue and fines during the past month.
What has been described as aggressive enforcement of parking violations in the plaza was discussed at length, with some in the audience using terms such as "terroristic" and "pouncing" on people immediately to write a citation.
While business owners didn't protest the existence of meters, they don't like the way enforcement officer Jason Cook handled violators and potential violators. Some claimed he writes out tickets prior to the 9 a.m. start of daily meter enforcement.
Some who spoke in council chambers yesterday and others who have written letters to the Valley News Dispatch said the aggressive enforcement style has chased customers away from businesses in the plaza.
Randy Sprankle, owner of Sprankle's Family Supermarket, offered a list of solutions he devised with the help of his son, Doug.
One included offering free 15-minute parking.
Council President John Ameno said that would be difficult to enforce if a motorist kept moving to various points in the plaza every 15 minutes.
A lock box where people could put their $3 fines was suggested.
Ameno said the boxes are being built, but people in the past would submit an empty envelope and later say their cash was stolen, prompting the borough to compel violators to pay by check or money order.
The Spankles, who own a local chain of grocery stores, offered to travel to locations with similar downtowns such as Lock Haven to try to see how other communities enforce parking violations.
"A former employee of ours is the meter maid in Kittanning and she is pleasant and positive," Randy Sprankle said.
Sprankle said that his business is down about 8 percent.
He said that when he was en route to Thursday's meeting he noticed only about 12 or 14 of about 100 parking spaces occupied in the plaza.
When an unidentified business owner accused council of "ruining the town," the accusation brought a sharp rebuke from Councilwoman Debra Schrecengost.
Schrecengost threatened to resign and left the meeting upset.
Ameno commented on what council has accomplished over his eight-year tenure and presented a Valley News Dispatch reporter a lengthy letter outlining 22 accomplishments he said have improved the borough.
Several in the audience asked if business owners could lease parking meters in front of their shops and offices as the borough once did.
But Ameno said business owners wouldn't pay their leases and had to be pursued for non-payment.
Borough Manager Lori Weig-Tamasy said she would talk to Cook about the way in which he handles his duties, even accompanying him on his rounds in the plaza.
"He's not the terroristic guy or Godzilla you're portraying him to be," Weig-Tamasy said.
In other business:
• Wendy Cappo resigned her seat on council, citing personal reasons.
Any borough resident is eligible to apply for the vacancy. Residents can apply at the borough office.
Council must appoint a replacement within 30 days. The replacement will be effective until Dec. 31, 2011.
An election will be held in 2011 to fill the remaining two years of Cappo's term.
• Constable Greg King presented a citation to four residents who helped him ward off an assault by a person to whom King was trying to serve a criminal complaint.
Cook, Eddie McClain, Benjamin LeHane and Dave Davis came to King's rescue and held the person in custody before police arrived.
"If they didn't aid me, I wouldn't be here today," King said.
"Thank God for the residents who stepped up to the plate," Ameno said.
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