Bellevue Council wants to negotiate with the Northgate School District over sharing the cost of the Glaser Avenue rehabilitation, but council members disagree on what portion Bellevue should contribute.

Bellevue obtained a $120,000 grant several years ago to install sidewalks along Glaser, used by students walking to Northgate High School. The project was delayed when officials finally realized that they were legally prohibited from constructing sidewalks along a privately owned portion of the road. In past years, Bellevue has refused to accept the private portion of Glaser until property owners paid to have the road repaired and brought up to code.

The complete project, including the sidewalks and road rehabilitation, is estimated to cost at least $290,000.

Director of administrative services Connie Flasher said that she had spoken with Northgate's director of finance, Marilynn Berner, who said that Northgate will not commit to a contribution amount until board members see how much is coming from Bellevue and the price of the project.

Chairman Mark Helbling said that the finance committee recommends that Bellevue put up the $120,000 in state grant money that it has secured for the installation of sidewalks on Glaser, as well as the $20,000 in engineering fees it already has put into the project.

Helbling said that this would be a good starting point for negotiations to take place between the borough and the school district.

Council member Jerry Walter, however, said that the borough also should contribute $50,000 from the borough’s road repair budget.

Walter said that this would show more commitment to the project, and added that he would be reluctant to go into negotiations saying that Bellevue would not spend any money on its own street.

Council member Linda Woshner reiterated that it was the finance committee’s recommendation to contribute only the grant money and the money already spent on engineering fees.

Walter said that the public works committee makes decisions on how to spend the money budgeted for roads, with council's approval. Walter said that the public works committee has recommended spending the $50,000 on Glaser.

Council vice president Lisa Blaney-Stewart suggested that the finance and public safety committee work together and come up with a motion to be voted on at the next meeting.

Council members Kathy Coder and Mike Kutschbach were absent.