As long as a new Slippery Rock Borough citizens group remains committed to being an asset, rather than a disruptive force, it could be the foundation for positive results — and help residents achieve a better understanding of financial constraints facing the town.

The group was formed because of what members view as a lack of adequate response by borough officials to certain community needs, such as effective winter street maintenance and resurfacing of deteriorated streets. Group members also are troubled over what they see as lax enforcement of borough ordinances, such as those governing developers.

The group points to at least one stormwater problem that exists because a developer allegedly was allowed to ignore ordinance stipulations.

Members of the group believe that with a budget of nearly $1 million, the borough should have the ability to do more to benefit its residents, and they might be right.

For example, that a borough of Slippery Rock's size has only one streets worker to deal with the many challenges posed by weather conditions and normal wear and tear on streets suggests a poor understanding of, and response to, a basic need.

One person cannot be expected to be available 24 hours a day, but somehow that's what exists.

Hopefully, the citizens group will be the catalyst for addressing these and other issues.

It's unconscionable that during a storm in mid-December, many streets weren't plowed. Why the borough didn't have provisions in place for part-time help to be called in such an instance is puzzling. The borough should be committed to keeping roads safe and passable.

In response to the formation of the citizens group, Councilman Royce Lorentz said, "Council has a limited budget; we've held the lid on taxes for many years."

But judging from the streets situation, residents can feel justified in asking whether there could be more help if the council reallocated some spending priorities. But beyond that, the condition of streets is a safety issue, and that must not be ignored.

As for keeping the lid on taxes, sometimes people have to "bite the bullet" so their town's needs can be met — but that should occur only after it's determined that higher taxes are the only alternative.

Such an assessment is in order.

If the citizens group's formation is an indicator, there are Slippery Rock residents who aren't confident that borough leaders are doing all that could be done to ensure the smooth operation of the borough. Borough officials have the obligation to prove otherwise.

Many communities get locked into the process of "doing things the way they've always been done," rather than make adjustments to address changing needs. Leaders in some communities ignore aspects of some ordinances to avoid controversies, to their communities' detriment.

How much of that is happening in Slippery Rock Borough has yet to be determined. And borough residents deserve to see a thorough analysis.

The citizens group has the potential to perform a valuable function for the borough, its taxpayers and non-residents who depend on services in the community.

The council should be willing to work cooperatively with the group rather than dismiss it as a thorn in the side of "business as usual."