MUNCY — After much discussion, occasionally heated, Muncy Borough voted 4-3 against razing four homes located in flood-prone areas of the community.

Muncy residents, including those living in homes being considered for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) buyouts, spoke up at the council meeting.

Much of the more than two-hour long meeting consisted of a back-and-forth discussion whether to prevent more homes from being destroyed or helping property owners who remain in flood areas of the borough.

Muncy Mayor Jon Ort cast the tiebreaking vote to reject the buyouts.

Council members voting against were Richard Baker, Bill Scott and Steve Shank. Voting yes were Linda Stein, Thad Martin and Scott Delany.

Jason Mausteller was absent.

“Nothing against you people,” Councilman Richard Baker said. “I’m sorry I had to vote that way, but it’s the town.”

Baker’s comments came following remarks from Pharon Banghart who

chastised the council for rejecting the buyouts. The home of her father, Bill Banghart, 29 N. Market St., was among the properties on the list.

Other properties are at 107 Mechanic St. and 114 and 112 N. Washington St.

Prior to the council vote, Bill Banghart said he was upset about not being considered by council for the earlier round of buyouts granted to other property owners.

Banghart and his daughter have appeared previously before council, noting the damage his home has incurred over the years from flood waters.

Scott asked Banghart if perhaps he considered simply putting his home on the open market.

“No, I haven’t,” he said.

He said he didn’t know when he moved into the home years ago that he would be dealing with flooding problems.

At one point, Scott noted the loss of tax revenues to the borough when homes are razed, leaving more empty lots in the community.

Pharon Banghart acknowledged that while some tax revenues would be lost, flooding and its aftermath are a reality in Muncy.

“If another flood comes, the borough can’t help my father,” she said. “Yes. It sucks that the borough is stuck with empty lots. Let these four lots go through.”

Delany said the four property owners on the buyout list have waited too many years for a decision to be made.

“If we choose to do nothing, they (homes) will continue to deteriorate. The value of houses will keep going down,” he said.

Marco Colbert, a Muncy business owner, told council there was no reason to raze more homes. He ticked off a list of other communities in the nation subjected to flooding that are not removing but adding housing.

“I think the whole thing with FEMA is snake oil,” he said. “We can increase revenues by allowing people to build.”

Borough officials noted that efforts are underway through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study to consider flood-prevention in the borough.

Amy Buck, 107 Mechanic St., said her home near Glade Run has deteriorated as the result of flooding.

She said she was disappointed in the council vote rejecting the buyouts.