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Mount Gretna Borough Council approved a resolution to limit parking on state Route 117 at its July 13 meeting.
The resolution was based on numerous discussions and will limit parking along the south side of Route 117 from Gettysburg Avenue to the tennis courts, solicitor Keith Kilgore explained.
It is a temporary 90-day restriction and includes an exception granting artists permission to park there for the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show on Aug. 15 and 16.
Mayor Kerry Royer said the PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program conducted a traffic study of Route 117 and granted the borough permission for the restriction. Another PennDOT LTAP meeting is scheduled for July 20, with more in-depth discussion on the traffic study and solutions.
Public works director Bill Care said he is researching and pricing options for temporary or permanent speed tables, potentially to be placed on Route 117 to aid in controlling traffic speed.
Following a public hearing, council also approved an ordinance pertaining to handicapped parking. Kilgore said the ordinance legitimizes the handicapped parking spaces in areas on Pennsylvania, Harvard, and Gettysburg avenues, along with a proposal for an additional handicapped parking space to the east of the steps on Yale Avenue.
The second component of the ordinance amended residential retail license requirements, necessitating that short-term rental license holders must pay their normal taxes and assessments by due dates or the borough has a right to revoke that license.
Kilgore said a final aspect of the ordinance states that trash, refuse, and recyclable containers shall be facing the street within 24 hours of the pickup date and be removed within 24 hours after pickup. All trash and refuse containers must be stored in a leakproof plastic or metal container with a secured lid. Recyclables should be stored in plastic or metal containers.
In other business:
- Care reported on July 4 storm damage to the community and ensuing recovery efforts. Power was restored by July 7 for some residents but remained out through July 9 for others, including the Mount Gretna Wastewater Treatment Plant. Borough staff maintained generators for the plant during that time. Care commended staff for their work to assist residents after the storm, as well as Bartlett Tree Experts for their prompt removal of fallen trees blocking roadways. The playground remains closed due to a downed wire that must be repaired by Met-Ed.
- Royer noted borough quiet hours have been temporarily lifted to allow residents more time to clean up from storm damage. Regular quiet hours will be reinstated July 20.
- Cornwall Borough Police Sgt. James Conklin reported the department responded to 15 calls in Mount Gretna Borough in June, including one arrest. National Night Out is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at The Park at Cornwall Center across from Cornwall Elementary.
Mount Gretna Borough Council will meet next on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Hall of Philosophy. Meetings are open to the public.
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