Palmyra Borough might consider ordinance regulating skill games

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Following discussions at the May 27 meeting, Palmyra Borough Council might consider regulations regulating skill games in the municipality.

The proposal will move on to the borough solicitor for review and edits before being brought back to council to decide if it will be publicly advertised for a vote at a future meeting.

Councilman Marcus Riddell brought the ordinance to council and said this would bypass zoning laws, regulating based on public safety in the borough.

Riddell said the zoning officer would be in charge of enforcement. They would charge $100 per terminal per year, and being out of compliance would bring a $500 fine per day until the business is brought back into compliance.

“This does not ban skill games in the borough, it leaves zoning out of it, does not conflict with the Senate Bill 626, which, for the last 10 years, we have yet to get anything passed in the state on skill games — it’s a fight. The way things are looking with 626, it’s going to die this year’s session,” Riddell said. “It’s up to us to protect our citizens when the state’s not going to.”

Council members and borough staff had some questions about the dollar amounts charged because they don’t want to increase costs for private clubs that currently have skill game machines. They also questioned the enforcement party, which the drafted ordinance states would be the zoning and codes enforcement officer.

Assistant borough manager Brenda Pera said the zoning enforcement officer’s hours end at 4:30 p.m., so any issues past that time would be handled by police. Since the zoning office is already busy, Pera said having the police handle enforcement might be better.

Discussions started after skill gaming arcade Keystone Klub had several special exemptions on the agenda for the May 13 meeting. Riddell said the ordinance was not brought to council because of the incoming business.

If this ordinance is accepted, it would not be retroactive. Keystone Klub has already received the required approvals, according to borough manager Roger Powl.

Ryan Kelly, chairman of the zoning hearing board, said Keystone Klub went to the zoning hearing board because it required special exceptions. He said the club met the few criteria required, so the board had no legal grounds to reject the requests.

Powl and other council members reviewed the ordinance before the meeting. Powl said that, if approved, it would ensure the available skill games are approved by the state and would limit what types of establishments the games can be located in.

In other business, council: 

• Heard comments from residents close to the Melrose development following Powl’s announcement at the last meeting that PennDOT was not in favor of the council-approved plan. They said their properties are continually being damaged by improperly handled water runoff. Council members suggested that property owners contact PennDOT to share their thoughts as impacted homeowners.
• Appointed Mandy Braden to serve as delegate and Lisa Daubert as alternate delegate to the Lebanon County Tax Collection Committee.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on June 10 at 7 p.m. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County Pennsylvania YouTube page.