Parking issues

MIDLAND - Parking issues were a topic of much discussion at Thursday's meeting of the Midland Borough Council, including new yellow curbs and parking restrictions during street sweeping hours.

A local business owner came to the meeting to voice complaints about the repainting of curbs in front of her business that is preventing customers from parking nearby. She added her daughter and a tenant have been issued parking tickets as a result of the curb painting.

In issuing the tickets, "The police officers only did exactly what we told them to do," said council member Paul Anthony.

"We want nothing more than to be business friendly ... and to make every business as accessible as possible," said council member Richard Torres.

Council member Sam Rosatone added the council passed an ordinance with the intention of repainting lines to prevent parking too close to intersections and to enforce those lines but said the painting extended further than it should have. "We got carried away with yellow paint," said Rosatone. "We have to rectify that mistake."

Rosatone said that painting was halted after a couple days, when it became evident that a problem was being created. He added that 30 days would be needed to review the ordinance.

Another issue addressed was that parking restrictions during street sweeping hours prevent some residents from parking in front of their houses for eight hours, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., on days when sweeping in scheduled, even after the sweeping has occurred.

Anthony suggested that the street sweeper could be in contact with police to advise them that sweeping had been done to avoid residents being given tickets.

"It's going to be administratively difficult for the police officers," said borough solicitor Shannon Steele. "You're just going to have too much confusion."

Anthony said the police committee would have a meeting in the next 30 days to address the issue.

"We're going to come up with something," said Rosatone.

In other business, the Midland Borough Council:

Welcomed two new part-time police officers, Ron Lutton and Jason Gostkowski.

Approved the purchase of a .22 rifle for the police department.

Ratified a quotation in the amount of $1,275 from Dean's Tree Service for the removal of trees in various locations that were damaged in a storm.

Announced the borough is the recipient of a $5,120 Recreation Grant from Beaver County Children and Youth Services to be used for recreational activities. $3,548.36 is also left over from last year's grant, which will go toward a picnic for Neel Elementary School students on Aug. 29.

Authorize a contract with Central Salt, LLC for the 2008-09 contract year at a cost of $64.14 per ton of salt.

Granted permission to the Parish Family of St. Blaise Church to block off Eighth Street between Penn and Ohio avenues from Sept. 6-9 for a church festival.

Announced that the fire department's car cruises for the remainder of the year would be canceled due to a lack of help.