Montrose updates SALDO

Montrose Borough Council gave its nod to a revised Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance on Monday night (June 7), following recommendations from the Montrose Borough Planning Committee and the Susquehanna County Planning Committee.

The update was long overdue, said Council President Sean Granahan. He noted that issues have arisen where borough residents wished to join or subdivide properties. “We haven’t had the tools we needed to do so.”

The updated SALDO will be posted on the borough’s website (www.montroseborough.com). It replaces the ordinance that dates back to 1979.

Parking Enforcement

Prior to ordering new parking tickets, the council opted to hold the cost of a parking ticket at $5. Metered parking is available on Public and Lake avenues, and Church, Maple and Chestnut streets, with two hours of parking costing 25 cents.

Parking Enforcement Officer Rachel Owens told council that she believed any increase in the ticket cost could cause resentment. “People are angry over $5,” she said.

She also noted that when she started working as the PEO, she issued an average of 13 to 15 tickets per day. That has decreased, she said, adding she now averages about seven tickets each day.

Owens also proposed taking 10 percent of the borough’s 145 metered spaces and issuing about 14 parking permits on a monthly basis. Permits, she suggested, could be split between residents and those employed in the downtown area and experiencing health issues.

Council members discussed the proposal, and said they would need to check the current parking ordinance to see if any changes needed to be made if they decided to offer a limited number of permit parking.

The proposal will be revisited at council’s July meeting.

Memorial Park

Councilman Ed Herd told council he would like to offer more for kids to do during the summer at Memorial Park, such as adding a “slip-and-slide” on Saturday afternoons. Herd said he could round of volunteers, with clearances to work with children, on those days to provide supervision. The borough first needs to check its insurance, but council members were in favor of it.

Chickens

Secretary Lillian Senko told council that she receives calls each week from borough residents who would like to raise chickens.

Council members said that would violate a borough ordinance that prohibits farm animals in the borough.

Other Business

Council also approved the following:

*National Night Out, on Aug. 3, in Memorial Park with fun, games and food;

*purchase of a police vehicle, at a cost of about $48,000 which includes the lettering, new camera system, and the transfer of the radio and VASCAR system from the 2012 Charger. The borough will advertising for bids for the 2012 Charger;

*rental of a milling machine by the street department; and purchase of items needed for catch basin repairs.