Council to revise parking ordinance
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council agreed Monday to revise the new parking ordinance it adopted last month, increasing fines for certain parking violations.
The new ordinance, which was not yet enforced, was found to have several problems; the most significant is that it had it had not been properly advertised and so would have to be nullified.
The ordinance was advertised for 30 days rather than the 60 days required by law, said attorney Kim Pratt, who was at the meeting representing borough solicitor Linda Chambers. The new ordinance, in addition, set fines incompatible with the borough’s computer invoicing system and was inconsistent in not addressing increased fines for such violations as parking in front of a fire hydrant.
Councilman Mark Fischer, who pushed for increasing the fines particularly those regarding violation of the two-hour parking limit in unmetered areas of the business districts, called the mistakes “unacceptable.”
Fischer said council was clear on what it wanted in the new ordinance and he was unhappy with the delay. “Now, we’re starting at square one,” he said. Fischer also demanded to know who was responsible for the errors and said such problems are why people are “fed up” with government.
Council discussed holding a workshop to discuss the new ordinance, but decided to approve as a draft a proposal that primarily doubled all current fines. Council agreed to add to the draft increasing the fine for parking in front of a fire hydrant from $10 to $50 and to add as a new violation parking on the sidewalk.
Council also is likely to increase the fine for violating the two-hour limit for parking in an unmetered parking area in the business district from $5 to $20. The draft proposed increasing the fine to $10.
According to the draft, $5 fines for parking in a permitted space, parking too far from the curb and failing to park within the marked space will increase to $10. What are now $10 fines for parking in a loading zone and in a no-parking zone will go to $20. Parking in a handicap zone will remain $50 and parking meter fines will remain $5.
Council will review the proposed draft at its next meeting and make any changes before approving it for advertising.