KULPMONT - One of the borough's new council members used her first official meeting to start a crusade for safer, cleaner streets.
Stephanie Niglio, named chairwoman of council's code, health, safety and ordinance committee, wasted no time Tuesday in suggesting changes to control speeders and clean up properties.
As for speeding, Niglio asked Kulpmont Borough Council to make several requests to PennDOT, the first to place yield to pedestrian traffic control devices at certain crosswalks on Chestnut Street (Route 61). The devices are designed to remind motorists that drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
The devices are placed in the roadway, up to 50 feet away from the crosswalk. To achieve proper association in the mind of the motorist, they are placed close to (but not in) the crosswalk, PennDOT.
Niglio also wants PennDOT to do a traffic study to bring a uniform speed limit to Chestnut Street, as the speed limit changes a few times while traveling the stretch.
"There are sections that show signs of 35 mph and others are 25 mph; that's a lot of change," Niglio said.
She believes 30 mph would be best, while Councilman Clarence Deitrick said 25 mph would be better.
"If we go to 30, we would have to change all the signs. At 25, we only change some of them," he said. Niglio said that the lower speed was fine with her.
Informed that PennDOT will not pay to have any signs changed for speed limits under 45 mph, council President Bruno Varano said it wasn't an issue.
"If there's a cost to us, there's no question that we would do it because it is for the safety of our citizens," Varano said.
Approval to contact PennDOT was done by a unanimous vote. Niglio announced PennDOT will place portable speed minders, devices to show approaching motorists what speed they are traveling in comparison to the current speed limit, on Chestnut Street from April 2 to 13.
'Revolving door'
Niglio later in the meeting spoke out about people not taking care of their properties, after listening to the comments of borough resident Sam Ryan.
"We have seen a revolving door of tenants with the property next to ours," Ryan said. "After the last one left, thanks to the help of (code enforcement officer) John Timm, 2,500 pounds of garbage was removed from the home by the landlord."
Following that, Niglio read a call-to-action statement for residents to show some pride in their community. The statement, in its entirety, reads:
"I would ask all borough residents to step outside their home and look around their properties. If there is any garbage, unwanted furniture, weeds, debris, plain old junk just lying around, please remove it. Old tires - I see them everywhere, in alleys, by Dumpsters, in entryways and yards and on porches. I am asking that they keep their house looking its best. If their entryway is blocked with wood, 2x4s, old stuff they will never use again, get rid of it. Keep garbage bags and pieces of living room furniture off porch areas. Do not use recycle bins for trash and help to do their part to help us make the Borough of Kulpmont what it once was."
$40,000 for playground
Deitrick announced the borough will receive a $40,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to build a new playground at Terry-Miriello Stadium. Even better news is that the borough can receive a $7,725 savings on playground equipment if ordered by Jan. 31.
Council unanimously approved the order, and will use the savings to purchase more equipment.
Budget OK'd
The 2012 budget was approved, with the figures of $632,150 in the general fund, $148,250 in the highway fun and $286,500 in the police pension fund. The 2012 tax levy was also approved with no increase for this year. Property taxes remain at 17.5 mills for general purposes, and three mills each for street lighting and fire protection.
In other business:
- At the start of the meeting, resolutions were presented to Raymond D. Kraynak and Michael Fantanarosa for serving on borough council, and fire chief Ray Siko, deputy chief Jeff Gilotti and assistant chief Kevin O'Hearn were sworn in.
- Resolutions were approved for the Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes football team for winning the District IV Class AA championship and for resident Cody Shustack, a member of the team, who was named to the All-State football team.
- Friday will be the last day for borough workers to pick up Christmas trees for recycling, and those who want to dispose of electronic devices can take them to the Coal Township Recycling Center every Thursday.