CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Fire Chief Todd Kling appealed to borough council members at Thursday’s committee meeting to take action to provide more parking for volunteer firefighters.
Kling stated there is currently enough parking for 16 vehicles on the firehouse lot, but there is a need for at least 25. He asked the council to put the parking meters out of service on the left side of Cherry Street from Front Street to the ally beside the firehouse to provide the needed additional parking.
After some discussion on how the parking will be monitored, council agreed to the recommendation. An option strongly considered is to provide window stickers to the volunteers for parking for firehouse duties and others will be cited.
Kling also reported that the new Command Vehicle purchased with state grant funds will arrive next week. He said the fire engine is still in Pittsburgh for service work, and the rest of the equipment is undergoing annual inspection. He said the borough will have a good fleet they can be proud of and feel safe with.
Kling also extended his thanks to the volunteers who helped with the refurbishing and lettering the department’s rescue boat.
Police Chief Vincent McGinnis reported that Officers Nathan Curry and John Brown have both successfully completed their six-month probation period. He also noted the department had confiscated more than 70 pounds of drugs in recent drug arrests.
In other business, committee members approved a recommendation to provide traffic control for the YMCA Fair Fun 5K run on the morning of Aug. 3. They also approved the recommendation to pay a mid-production payment to Keystone Fire Apparatus Inc. of $72,000.
Engineer Todd Banks of Stiffler, McGraw & Associates reported the New Enterprise will not be able to start the Daisy Street paving project until after July 1. Street Commissioner Steve Biancuzzo said that will be plenty of time to finish the preparation work.
Biancuzzo presented information on hot versus cold pavement crack sealer equipment, materials and costs. It was suggested that the Public Works Committee review the options in more detail and make a recommendation to council.
Council members discussed at length the problem of bagged grass and lawn trimmings left along streets by residents. It was noted the borough had adopted a policy to not provide the pick-up service for lawn trimmings, and that residents are responsible for disposing of their own trimmings. Councilman Jim Kling pointed out that bags of clippings are left on curbs and end up being broken open and the clippings get washed into the storm sewers.
Council members agreed they will not go back to providing the pick-up service and remind residents they are responsible for disposal of lawn trimmings. Kling offered to review the borough code to determine what recourse the borough has on citing residents who do not properly dispose of lawn trimmings.
Code Enforcement Officer Larry Mack reported on actions by the Clearfield County Planning Commission in considering plans for the addition of an eatery at the Race Street Brew Works and re-zoning for a parking lot across from Busters Sports Bar. Action on the Solid Waste Ordinance was tabled until next month, he said.
Council adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
