Photo by Brent Addleman
This section of U.S. 219 in Ridgway Borough is being planned as a "No Parking" zone by PennDOT. Ridgway Borough Council approved sending a letter to the state organization expressing their displeasure with the move.

Mayor Martin returns to active duty; council approves road closures for events.

By Brent Addleman

Editor

 The Ridgway Borough Council received a pleasant surprise as Mayor Jim Martin returned to warm smiles and hearty handshakes as last night’s regularly-scheduled meeting.
With the long-time mayor returning, the council quickly went to work by approving a trio of road closures for festivals and voted the approval of writing a trio of letters to express their disdain for a parking situation, a dilapidated building and a cut in state funding for a local library.
The borough recently received a letter from PennDOT stating there will be signs posted that read “No Parking” on North Broad Street in the vicinity of Elk Creek Bridge. The roadway has parking spaces that are utilized daily for the businesses on that stretch of U.S. 219.
“PennDOT will be putting signs along the bridge - near the Pennsy Restaurant - on the Elk Creek Bridge that says No Parking. We have no control of that,” Borough Manager Martin Schuller said. “It’s right on the bridge.”
Councilman Ralph Dussia vehemently protested the measure by the state organization citing the longevity of the businesses in that section of downtown.
“That’s just stupid,” Dussia said when hearing of the measure. “Those people at the Pennsy [Restaurant] are having a hard enough time, now you’re gonna take their parking away. Business is tough enough in this town. They are going to take someone’s parking away. I think we ought to send a letter protesting that. That’s not right.
“A lot of old people in this town park there, because they can’t walk from the parking lot. I’ll make that motion. Business is tough enough in this town. We don’t need that kind of crap.”
Council quickly approved sending a letter to PennDOT stating their position on the matter. Councilman J.R. Geitner suggested sending the letter to Sen. Joe Scarnati and Rep. Matt Gabler as well.
While discussing that section of U.S. 219, Councilman John Casolo Jr. inquired as to who owns the train depot that sits beside the bridge across from the Penny Restaurant.
Schuller informed council that Allegheny Eastern Railroad owns the property.
Casolo Jr. suggested a letter be crafted and sent to the railroad company concerning the look of the property and any safety hazards it may produce.
“That thing is a safety hazard down there,” Casolo said. “That roof looks like it is about to fall off. There is lumber hanging there. I think we should send them a letter to tell them to do something with that.”
A third letter will be sent to Gov. Edward Rendell and Sen. Scarnati and Rep. Gabler in regards to council’s opposition to budget cuts for library funding in the proposed state budget. According to Environmental Manager Paul McCurdy, the library stands to lose $18,000 under the proposed budget cuts.
Council wasted little time in approving road closures for the Historical Society’s Strawberry Festival, Trinity United Methodist’s Church’s Free Community Picnic and the Independence Festival. Center Street will be closed on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. for the Strawberry Festival, while South Broad Street will be closed from Main Street to Center Street on Aug. 30 from 2 to 8 p.m. for the picnic. Court Street will be closed on June 26-27 for the Independence Festival.
According to Mayor Martin, 13 trucks have come down Boot Jack since the first of the year. Most of the trucks when they are pulled over and get fined, tell officers the GPS device tells them to go straight rather than use the truck route.
“I asked [Police Chief Ralph Tettis] ‘don’t they read the signs in the air?” Martin said. “That doesn’t make sense. That thing is signed good now, but anyway we are still having a few that come down through. I don’t know the answer for it and I don’t think there is answer. That is the answer they give - they are instructed by the GPS.”
Council is also in a holding pattern regarding the hiring of a police officer. Borough Manager Marty Schuller has applied for funding through the JAG Grant program.
“We are really short-handed and it’s hard to get part-timers, but Marty would like to wait one more month,” Martin said. “We have a letter from them that says they aren’t going to make any kind of decision until September on the program. So who knows if they are every going to do it. My request is to Marty that we ought to do it this month, but you want us to wait.”
Schuller defended his stance on the hiring of a new officer citing the financial obligations at hand and suggested turning the matter over to the Police, Fire and Equipment Committee to have a meeting to discuss the situation. Council approved the measure.
Environmental Manager Paul McCurdy also spoke on behalf of a resident that was unable to attending the meeting. The customer has issue with the minimum usage requirement for the water and sewer the borough provides.
According to McCurdy, the customer is unhappy with the requirement and uses less than 2,000 gallons a month, which the borough charges. This customer feels they should only have to pay for what is used.
“Our minimun is relatively low and one of the purposes for a minimum charge is you cover some fixed costs that way that are not usage dependent,” McCurdy said. “That is the reason utilities have minimums.”
Council approved M&M Contractors to do work on the H.B. Norton Dam Improvement Project Phase II. Council approved restricting access to the site by placing a sign that will be put up and taken down by the contractors notifying people if the area is closed. Citing safety concerns yet addressing outdoor recreational activities, council hopes to have the area open Friday-Saturday-Sunday to accommodate those who fish.
In other business:
n Council approved Ordinance No. 652, authorizing the borough to join with other local government units as a member of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association for the purpose of entering into an Intergovernmental Contract to form a Local Government Risk Pool.
n The pool will open two weeks later this year on June 22 and a new membership rate was approved. Information can be obtained at the borough office.
n The helmet rule at the skate park was also addressed. Council would like to implement a three-strikes rule whereas a first offense would warrant a one-day suspension from the park, the second would be one week and a third would be a month. The Police Department is in charge of enforcing the requirement at the park.
n Council approved Resolution 11-2009 authorizing exiting the grant for the Main Street Program.