DALTON — The borough council discussed the possibility of creating a parking ordinance at its Jan. 14 meeting.
The idea was brought up by councilman Len Peters, who suggested parking on the streets be prohibited from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. during winter months.
“This will facilitate movement of not only (snow) plows, but emergency vehicles, also,” he said.
Solicitor Frank Bolock said the board previously talked about this matter in 2006 but never moved forward on it.
Mayor Aaron Holzman asked if any homes don’t have off-street parking. Peters replied the only street on which people park often is Church Street.
Board member Bill Montgomery asked Bolock to write an ordinance for the next meeting. Bolock replied the board has to first advertise it and asked about terms of enforcement.
“If we have to tow to clear the street, they (drivers) will have to bear the cost of the towing,” he said.
Peters suggested the ticket should cost about $50 to deter vehicle owners from parking on the street. He also suggested the first offense be a warning. The board decided to let Police Chief Chris Tolson decide how the rule will be enforced. Tolson said he can tell drivers to use discretion when parking.
Bolock agreed to circulate an ordinance and advertise it for February’s meeting.
Also, Peters noticed a problem regarding “No Parking Here to Corner” signs in front of the Dalton Pharmacy (Main Street and North Turnpike Road).
“They (the signs) are so close to the corner that if you get somebody parking in front of and on Main Street, you literally cannot see pedestrians,” he said.
Peters suggested the Department of Public Works move the signs about four or five feet past the sidewalk.
In other business, the board voted to approve the first two ordinances of 2016.
The first ordinance is to appropriate funds to defray expenses of the Borough of Dalton for the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 and authorizing the Award of Contracts for Specified Items, fixing the salary and compensation of certain officers and employees of the Borough of Dalton subject to taxation for the fiscal year 2016.
The second approval was for an ordinance of the Dalton Borough electing to amend its Municipal Pension Plan administered by the PA Municipal Retirement System pursuant to Article IV of the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law as amended and as applicable to member municipalities.