Scott officials are proceeding with additional testing for a proposed wall to shore up a steep hillside behind Boroview Avenue, even though the work would be done on private property and the township doesn't have the funds for the repair, estimated at $750,000.

Officials voted 8-0 Tuesday to spend an estimated $18,460 to perform three more test borings of the hill's sub-surface in order to design a 216-foot-long, 10-foot-high soldier beam and lagging retaining wall (steel I beams with wooden lagging between them) that would be built near the top of the slope.

However, Commissioners Dave Calabria and Jean O'Toole made it clear that they voted for the borings so that the residents in the five affected dwellings could use the resulting information if Scott does not obtain additional funding.

So far, the only money the township has for the project is a $100,000 grant received in 2007 from County Executive Dan Onorato, state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, and other county and state officials.

"It's not something that will happen overnight," said township Manager Denise Fitzgerald. "We're hoping to get more grant money."

With current economic conditions and tight budgets everywhere, that may not be easy. State Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Robinson, has been trying to obtain a $300,000 matching grant for several years.

The state does not have any programs that cover landslides. Homeowners' insurance doesn't cover such slippages either, even when one of the precipitating factors was the September 2004 rains from Hurricane Ivan. But a 2005 study by geotechnical company Garvin Boward pointed to other issues, including water from imbedded roof drains and underground springs. Mine subsidence has been ruled out.

The issue of work on private property came up repeatedly Tuesday, with some officials arguing that the repair is a township problem because some sliding land fell on a barricaded and impassable 10-foot-wide pathway called Bluff Street Extension. This benched walkway, also known as Sycamore Path, was constructed many years ago by mill workers so they could walk to the now-closed Superior Mill site. An electric light along the path was turned off about 10 years ago to discourage party-goers and to save money.

Others were concerned about the township working on private property. Township engineer Larry Lennon said Scott would have to obtain easements from the homeowners to do the work.

As to the question of whether shoring up a landslide on one street would set a precedent, township solicitor Bob McTiernan said that matter should be discussed because it could involve "potential litigation."

According to the 2005 geotechnical study, the proposed retaining wall project would involve the disturbance and removal some rear and side lawns, "rear decks, porches, fences, and walls in the rear yards of the affected dwellings."

These buildings would be replaced as part of the project.

Muddying the matter even further -- three of the five affected homes are owned by township public works employees.

At this week's meeting, Mr. Calabria pointed out that other communities hit with landslides, such as Brentwood, have helped with studies, but homeowners were left to deal with the slides on their own.