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Vol. LXIII, No. 16
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 16
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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Leashed dogs and street parking were the main topics of discussion at the Borough Council meeting last Tuesday, with Council approving leashed dogs in Harrison Street, Marquand, and Quarry Parks. Under the previous ordinance, no dogs were permitted in any Borough parks.
Council President Andrew Koontz said the ordinance deals with an issue he brought up a few months previously concerning an incident in a Borough park during which an unleashed dog attacked a leashed dog, resulting in fines for both owners.
After referring the idea of allowing leashed dogs in certain parks to the Health Commission and Recreation Department, it was determined that three were suitable. Mr. Koontz cautioned that “it is still not appropriate to have dogs in Borough parks that are primarily playgrounds.”
A Mercer Street resident and dog owner voiced her support for the new ordinance, noting that “there is no safe way to walk around Marquand Park with a dog on a leash,” since it is not bordered by a sidewalk.
Adding a clause that specifically bans dogs from Maggie’s playground, a fenced-in play area in Quarry Park, finalized the ordinance, which was unanimously approved.
Parking
Regarding a recently-approved ordinance which will extend parking meter hours until 8 p.m., seven days a week, as well as implement regular parking rates on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., storeowner Henry Landau said that the Borough was not in compliance with state Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, which list meter hours on Route 27 as being in effect until 6 p.m. along Nassau Street.
Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi noted that Mr. Landau is correct, and that Borough Engineer Chris Budzinski had sent a letter to the authorities at DOT, “to bring the street into compliance.” He added that he “doesn’t expect there will be any issue with the state.”
Mr. Bruschi said the changes in hours and rates in street and municipal garage parking would be phased in gradually. “A lot of the new regulations take some time to get up and running.”