Is the law enforceable? How much is the law going to cost the taxpayers? Is there another way to solve the overcrowding of housing units in town blamed on illegal immigrants? And can all of this be done without a battle in court?

These are just a few of the questions township Democrats say they are now asking after the election gave them a 3-2 majority on the Township Committee after the township reorganizes in January.

While no one is ready to announce a definite plan to rescind the ordinance, which has led to protests, counter-protests and federal and state lawsuits, Riverside's Democrats say they are wondering if the law is worth all the trouble.

“We're all against illegal immigration. The whole country is against illegal immigration, but I'm not sure (the Riverside Illegal Immigration Relief Act) is enforceable,” said Thomas Polino who, with Democratic running mate Lorraine Hatcher, managed to pull off a surprising upset over the longtime incumbents.

The township's ordinance, modeled after a similar law passed in Hazleton, Pa., prohibits hiring or renting housing to illegal immigrants in the township. The Township Committee adopted the ordinance in July, but has since amended it twice and has not begun enforcement.

George Conard, the only Democrat currently serving on the committee, said voters clearly want a change. He said he believes the committee may need to re-evaluate all of its options for dealing with the influx of illegal immigrants.

“This week Hazleton had a freeze put on enforcing their ordinance,” said Conard, referring to an order handed down Monday by a federal judge in Pennsylvania temporarily blocking enforcement of that city's ordinance.

“We need to get our code enforcement officer out there inspecting properties and enforcing the housing code. If we enforce the local, county and state housing laws on the books, maybe we won't need the (anti-illegal immigration) law.”

Conard, Hatcher and Polino have all said they're concerned about the costs of fighting the issue in state and federal courts.

“We're a small town,” Conard said. “I think if we take this to the federal (level), it's going to cost us a lot. I know we have people who say they're going to help us, but the $20 we're getting here and $80 we're getting there doesn't go very far when you consider how much it costs for lawyers to defend this.”

Polino said one of his main goals is to keep the community involved and help the committee come up with a consensus on how best to proceed.

While yesterday was primarily reserved for relishing the victory and collecting his campaign signs, the newly elected committeeman said he knows the honeymoon in Riverside will be over soon.

“I saw a friend of mine (yesterday) and he congratulated me, but he also said, "Don't think I'm going to cut you any slack come January,' ” Polino said.

E-mail: TODD MCHALE

Article's URL:   http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-11092006-739220.html