Weatherly Borough Council members have signaled their intent to take ownership of the borough's landmark school.

Borough council voted 6-1 Monday night to give their blessing to a plan put forth by Mayor/Council President Tom Connors that would have local residents raise money so the borough can buy the school, which was recently put on the market.But things got heated before the vote, when it looked like there would not be a majority of members in favor of accepting the 1915 C.M. Schwab School."Ninety percent of people here want that school," Michele Gerhard said. "Why are you telling us no?"About 50 people packed into the meeting Monday night, the majority of them in favor of Connors' plan to have residents raise money to purchase the school, with the borough taking ownership.On the first vote, council rejected the idea 4-3. Norman Richie, Cecelia Gower, George Miller and Joseph D'Andrea voted against accepting the school. Connors, Joseph Cyburt and Harold Farrow voted for it. Farrow called in to the meeting to cast his vote in favor of purchasing the school.However, the discussion about the school continued after the vote. Some criticized council, calling the decision "shameful."Some exasperated residents pleaded with the nay votes to change their mind."If you buy the building, you've got 100 years to fix it up. You don't buy it, you've got nothing," Don Braun said.Connors said that members of the public were allowed to ask council members why they voted the way they did - so they asked each of them individually.Gower said she wondered how the borough would pay if it had to demolish the building's annex, which has deteriorated more than the original school building. Residents responded by saying they would pledge money beyond the initial purchase of the building."I bet if we went on there for 48 hours, and said (we're buying) the school, we need pledges. I'll bet we'd have quite a bit of that money already donated," Petrina Graaf said.Miller responded by asking the gathered members of the public how much they wanted to see their taxes go up to fund the school.Richie, who said he is in favor of saving the school but wary of the cost to the borough, said that he only heard about the plan to accept the school last Wednesday, at the council's workshop meeting."This is a big decision, and to make that in four days …" he said before audience members spoke over him.Richie said his work schedule prevented him from having a chance to meet with Connors to learn more about the plan before Monday's vote. When he explained that he couldn't look at pictures from inside the building because he said, "I work for a living," the audience booed.Connors did not show any sympathy."You work? Well resign your seat and give one of them a chance," he said to cheers. "Do your job. You asked to be elected."The debate continued. About 10 minutes later, Richie said he had changed his mind. He said that of about 30 people he talked to in the borough before the meeting, most wanted nothing to do with the project."But after seeing people, the way they reacted tonight, you guys are paying taxes also. If this is what you want, I would be willing," he said.