EVANS CITY — John “Jack” Beers appealed to borough council on Monday night to increase the number of road crew employees so he can safely complete all of his tasks.

Beers is one of just two men on the borough’s public works crew, the other being public works director Norm Nelson.

The frustrated employee spoke to the council as a lifelong resident and taxpayer in the borough.

“The speculation that two guys can do this town is absurd,” Beers said.

He said the ditches, catch basin and signs are in a state of disrepair, and the streets are cracking and in need of pothole repair.

“I’m here as a resident to (find out) who’s going to fix my street,” Beers said.

The 24-year borough employee told the council that at one time, the public works department employed five men. He said when residents spot a deficiency that needs to be repaired, they approach the public works crew.

“I want it to be known that if things do not get done, it’s not our fault,” Beers said.

Nelson, who attends every council meeting to give a report and answer questions, told the board that even three men on the crew is not enough to complete all the tasks required of the public works department.

He said to patch potholes, one man drives the truck and two shovel patching material.

Nelson said there is no way a two-man crew can clean up leaves in the fall as they have been in the past.

“I take a vacation and you’ve got one man,” Nelson said.

The two men also took issue with the lack of communication from borough officials on the matter.

“We hear things, but we don’t know what’s true,” Nelson said. “Nobody is talking to us.”

Kim Armstrong, borough vice president, who ran Monday’s meeting in the absence of council President Lee Dyer, said she understood the men’s frustration, but could not give an answer on whether a new public works employee would be hired.

“We’re not a rich community,” Armstrong said.

Councilman John Mc-Kinney was more blunt.

“Even if we could hire, it would have to be dirt cheap, because the problem is, there’s no money,” McKinney said.

Councilman Karl Kennedy seemed to side with Nelson and Beers.

“We’re going to have to do something about it, that’s for sure,” Kennedy said.

The council took no action on the matter on Monday night.