SLIGO, Pa. (EYT) — The burning of garbage, trash, couches, and other noxious material continues to be a problem in Sligo Borough, and at the group’s January meeting, Sligo Borough Council Vice President Chuck Marsh said he would continue to bring it up each month until something is done.
Reports of illegal fires are frequent at borough council meetings, even though fires are only legal Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residents are also allowed to only burn paper and cardboard.
Despite the violations, enforcement is a problem due to only 10 hours per week purchased from the New Bethlehem Police Department to provide police coverage and enforcement of ordinances. Pennsylvania State Police do not enforce any local ordinances.
“This is a problem, and people are getting sick from the things that are being burned,” said Marsh, repeating items of concern from past meeting and still looking for a solution.
The discussion became a bit more heated when Councilmember Wayne Meier questioned Marsh about making the illegal burning a personal issue.
“It’s beginning to sound like you’re on council for your own personal agenda,” said Meir.
Marsh objected to the issue being called a personal agenda and pointed to his service to Sligo Borough, Sligo Authority, and the Rec Center.
“If they would burn the things they’re supposed to, I wouldn’t have a problem,” said Marsh. “When you hear cans exploding in the fires, that’s a problem. Is it a personal agenda because I don’t want to get sick from the things they are burning? It’s just not for me and my neighbors; it’s for all of Sligo.”
Meier said Marsh was starting to reflect on the whole town, but agreed enforcement of the ordinance was a problem.
“Nobody’s going to be able to enforce the ordinance because they can’t enforce the ordinance now,” said Meier.
Regarding the 10 hours a week limit on police, a lot of time can be put into investigation of a domestic incident. The December police call log included an assist for EMS, an assist the Children Youth Services, noise disturbance, warrant service, and a vehicle accident.
“We can address it and tell them you’re going to respond, but how are we going to do that…tell them to take it off the next week?” asked Marsh. “If they don’t have the hours, they won’t respond unless it’s an emergency.”
Meier felt the responding to the fires should be a priority.
“If the police are called because of the burning ordinance, I think it should be one of their number one priorities and not some of these other little things,” said Meier.
Marsh replied it wasn’t really the fault of the police because they put in hours quickly on some incidents.
“It’s not their fault. They use up their hours, and they do a lot of investigative work on domestic matters, and it can run into hours.”
Meier questioned how much the fines were from the magistrate, and Marsh said he didn’t know because the magistrate sets them, but that the fines should increase if the individual is a repeat offender.
“We could tell the police ‘if you come up, we’ll give you the money from the magistrate,’” said Meier. “That ought to cover the cost.”
All council members agreed that Sligo Borough did not have the money to pay for any additional hours from the New Bethlehem Police Department.
“Let’s not pay them if we’re not getting what we want,” suggested Councilmember Sherry Laughlin. “As long as we have the renters we do in town, that’s what we’re going to get.”
Several council members questioned if Pennsylvania State Police could be used instead of the New Bethlehem Police, but PSP can’t enforce local ordinances, including the very burning ordinance being discussed. All of the incidents listed on the police log might have been covered by PSP.
However, like Sligo Borough, PSP is also having funding problems and plans for charging municipalities for their services are under consideration, according to Marsh.
Another alternative under consideration is allowing PSP to take over policing Sligo Borough and hiring someone to enforce local ordinances only.
Council ended its meeting just like it has many others, acknowledging the burning problem, but reaching no solution. The answer is blowing in the wind.
In other business:
• Submitted a PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant Request for repair of the footbridge between Sligo Borough and the Sligo Elementary School.
• Following last month’s meeting, Integrity Energy didn’t recognize that some of Sligo’s accounts have a different rate. Borough officials were able to contract with Direct Energy for the Rec Center at .0589 for 24 months and all other borough accounts with ENGIE at .0609 for 36 months.
• Received a thank you from Southern Clarion County Ambulance Service for a $250.00 donation.
• Paid $4,423.00 to State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) for SVFD Worker’s Comp. Policy. Beels Insurance will invoice Munroe Township ($3,842.00), Toby Township ($1,386.00), and Piney Township ($2,498.00) for their shares. Once Beels receives their payments to send to SWIFT, Sligo will be reimbursed for a $1,097.00 overpayment.
• Comcast contacted Sligo Borough concerning the renewal for the local franchise agreement. Comcast wants to schedule a meeting to discuss informally negotiating a renewal agreement.
• According to Knox Law, the 2017 Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry bidding thresholds now allow Sligo Borough to purchase items with the purchase value of less than $10,699.00 with no quotes or bits. Three quotes must be obtained for such expenditures between $10,700.00 and $19,699.00, and the borough must publicly bid expenditures that are $19,700.00 or more.
• Sligo Borough is considering appointment of an electorate in February to serve as auditor. Connie Graham is unable to audit since she will be in Florida. The remaining two auditors are Tom Anthony and Colleen Weser.
• Attending the January Sligo Borough Council meeting were President Lyle Foringer, Vice President Chuck Marsh, Sherry Laughlin, Don Lawrence, Michelle Elder, and Wayne Meier.
