Parked cars hindering boro plowing efforts

BY STACI WILSON

Cars parked on the side of some borough streets hinderedMontrose streetcrew’s efforts to plow during the late October snow storm.

Street crew foreman Ken DiPhillips told council at its Monday, Nov. 7 meeting, that he could not get the plow through the narrowJessup Streetbecause of the parked vehicles.

Council members discussed a borough ordinance that requires rental property owners provide off-street parking for tenants in residential sections of the borough.

DiPhillips was advised by council to call police and have the vehicles either ticketed or towed if the situation occurs again.

Police Chief Dale Smith was also asked by council to place reminders about the borough’s winter parking ordinance on vehicles parked on the streets in the residential neighborhoods.

Councilman Tom Lamont said he would like to see 10-ton weight limits placed on all borough streets to serve to deter large trucks from traveling side streets.

“I think it could stop a problem before it starts,” Lamont said. “I don’t want people with heavy trucks thinking they can run on whatever roads they want.”

Lamont said he would follow up on the matter and bring information back to the Nov. 21 council meeting.

Posts for the additional parking meters are slated to be placed this week, weather depending, DiPhillips said.

However, the meters are still not ready for installation – the borough is waiting to receive the computer boards that are on back-order.

Following that, the meters will need to be certified by the Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Council granted the United Fire Company permission to hold its Parade of Lights. The parade is scheduled for Nov. 26 and will be followed by activities at the firehall.

Council also voted to submit the $14,712 allocation from the Fire Company Relief Association to United.

The borough was also sent a draft of the fire service agreement – document council members said they had not signed in recent years.

The agreement calls for a payment to the fire company equal to about 1.3 mils of tax money. In Montrose, one mill brings in $26-27,000 in revenue.

The borough, however, does not fund the fire company through millage, instead a flat $30,000 is budgeted annually for the fire company.

Members of borough council plan to meet Dec. 6 with zoning consultant Carson Helfrich who is working on an update to the borough’s zoning ordinance.

The Montrose Restoration Committee is seeking funding to complete its lighting project in the borough. Council agreed to co-sign a letter to be sent to Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey asking for their help acquiring any available federal funds for the project.

Council also granted a request from Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation to allow for a campfire to be held in Memorial Park during the Christmas Festival slated to be held Dec. 2-4.