KULPMONT - A good portion of Kulpmont Borough Council's meeting Tuesday night featured an unpleasant topic - garbage.
Council reviewed a revamped draft of the borough's 2005 garbage ordinance presented by Stephanie Niglio, but many members were not in agreement with it.
Council questioned certain parts of the ordinance that were unclear. Niglio explained the wording wasn't changed from the original ordinance in 2005, so there was probably content included from the original ordinance in the 1960s.
"There is a section that talked about having wood stockpiled in the kitchen, but we don't allow that anymore. That might have been when there were coal and wood stoves in kitchens, but not anymore," Kulpmont mayor Myron Turlis said.
At one point, Niglio became frustrated with the discussion, calling it "nitpicking."
"The ordinance was first made when two men who made their bread and butter as garbage men parked their garbage trucks on the street overnight and people complained," Niglio said. "Today, we have the problem of people who are stockpiling their garbage, not paying a refuse hauler to take it away and just letting it sit there."
"I understand what you are trying to do, but I'm the one that will get the phone calls to try to explain it," Turlis said. "Who will enforce this on the weekends?"
"I've gone around with my camera taking pictures and sending them to (code enforcement officer) John Timm," and if the garbage is still there on Monday, we cite them," Niglio replied.
The councilwoman agreed to consider the changes suggested and return the ordinace to council for a second review before making a motion to advertise it.
Niglio also talked about the pedestrian channelizing devices on borough streets, and their non-enforcement by police.
"I've had a number of people tell me that they have seen pedestrians cross and drivers are not stopping for them," Niglio said, questioning police chief Richard Wilson whether any citations have been given out.
"We haven't seen any violations," Wilson replied.
Niglio questioned how often police are checking for it; failure to stop carries a $50 fine. She also noted the signs are being damaged.
"There was a motorist that ran one over at the end of town, while the police car was parked at the Chinese restaurant, and nothing was done about it," she said. "One sign has been stolen, and we have not recovered it yet. I've had a lot of people say to me thank you for bringing them to town, but if this keeps up, I don't know how long they will be there."
Council announced PennDOT gave approval to Kulpmont to lower the speed limit through town to 25 mph, and the borough ordered new speed limit signs, at a cost of $930.75.
In other business, borough council opened two bids for the design and construction of a new borough building, which will house the administrative, business and police offices, and the borough's maintenance equipment.
Bids were received from Robert Feaster Construction of Northumberland at $1.620,000, and Bradco Supply of York at $1,366,342. They will be given to the borough's engineer for review.
A special resolution was presented to the players and coaches of the Mount Carmel Area Girls Basketball Team, for reaching the state Eastern finals and finishing with a 27-1 record this past season.