Borough Council talks safety, parking and zoning issues / By Martha Knight

A sluice screen at a Keating Avenue property might create a different hazard from the one currently feared by some, the Port Allegany Borough Council heard Monday night.

Borough manager Richard Kallenborn said that discussions with the owner and his own analysis indicate that while a sluice screen might keep children from getting into the sluice, it could plug in rapid run-off conditions, diverting water onto the lawn. Besides, he said, a nearby creek could be entered by children.

Also, Kallenborn said, the sluice is owned by the property owner, and liability rests with him. He said it would shift to the borough if a screen were installed.

Council member David Fair expressed concern about the safety of children and suggested that it should be the primary issue considered in such decisions.

Kallenborn said the property owner has young children, and supervises their outdoor play. The manager did mention his concerns about Pearl Street children playing in a creek when it is storm swollen. “Parents need to be responsible for their children, “ he declared.

Fair raised the issue of a Catlin Avenue resident leaving a recreation vehicle transport trailer parked on the street. Fair, who lives nearby, said the trailer blocks one lane, and that two-way traffic is not possible in that portion of the street.

Police chief Dave Distrola said he had checked on the situation and found that he did not have authority to cite the trailer owner or tell him to move the trailer. He said the borough council would need to act to restrict parking in the area, and post signs showing where parking was prohibited.

Fair insisted that blocking a traffic lane or impeding traffic was illegal. He and Distrola agreed to discuss the laws they believe apply.

Council voted to have a spring cleanup day next year. Council member Eric Button has been researching how such events are handled in nearby municipalities. After describing one model,  a collaborative cleanup that involves another borough and two townships, he moved that the borough hold a spring cleanup day next year; Fair seconded.

Council member Lynn Farber objected that she thought there should be more details worked out before a decision, but the motion was carried with a majority of Ayes.

The prohibition of mobile homes other than in most parts of the borough has been called into question, Kallenborn said, after attempts failed to keep a recently placed mobile home from being occupied in an area not zoned for them. He said solicitor Krista Schott had given an opinion that, short of a change in the zoning ordinance, single mobile homes could be placed on individual parcels almost anywhere in the borough.

New water lines along Laurel Lane and Main Street should be finished by mid-September, Kallenborn said. Where some new lines are complete, they are being charged with chlorinated water. After testing safe they will be available for customers to hook their lines to.

Sewer line replacement will begin August 18, and should be completed in early October, Kallenborn reported.

Online bidding on the old dump truck finished at $7,607, Kallenborn announced. Council voted to accept that bid, finalizing a transaction Kallenborn said “worked out very well,” in the borough’s first use of that method of selling used equipment. The new dump truck has been received and is in service.

Council also voted to apply for the $4,732 McKean County Commissioners had informed the borough it would be allotted in Liquid Fuel Fund money this year. Button’s motion specified that the 2014 amount would be placed in escrow and combined with future such allotments. It will be used toward an eventual large paving project.

Randy Headley, Kallenborn and council member Kate Kysor updated council members on the financial crisis the Port Area Ambulance Service is facing.  There are some fears that the service might have to be discontinued, unless more revenues are received, particularly through accounts receivable.

Mayor George Riley requested that the borough consider restoring access to the community by snowmobilers. He noted that the community used to have snowmobile routes, which were abolished some years ago. Riley would like to see that form of recreation encouraged locally again.

The mayor said he welcomes emails from persons wishing to reach him. They may send messages to mayorporta@gmail.com.