Myerstown council advertises revised rental license ordinance

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In a mixed vote Tuesday, Myerstown Borough Council agreed to advertise a proposed amendment to the borough’s rental license ordinance that would eliminate mandatory inspections.

The ordinance may be adopted following a public hearing Aug. 11.

Councilmen Gregg Kemp and Matthew Mulvaney were opposed, with council president Daniel Ebling and councilmen Bradley Kahl, Robert Fullenlove, Todd Kahl, and Mark Kirsch in favor.

Ebling previously said the goal is to reduce cost to landlords and simplify requirements, with licensees currently paying $75 per unit in annual inspection fees. The draft ordinance also allows for a single application to be submitted for a building with multiple rental units, and allows for complaint-based inspections.

Council also voted to direct solicitor Amy Leonard to finalize a draft ordinance containing the following changes to traffic and parking regulations:

• Restrict truck turns for trucks over 30 feet long, except local deliveries, at the following intersections: South College and West Park, East Richland and South Broad, East Richland and South Railroad, East Main and South Broad, East Main and South Cherry, East Main and South Railroad, and East Main and Quarry.
• Ban parking on the west side of South Railroad Street from Main Avenue to Richland Avenue.
• Ban parking on East Richland Avenue from South Railroad Street to Walnut Alley.
• Remove a current ban on overnight parking at the Peach Alley recreation area parking area, and add a ban on overnight storage of RVs, boats, and trailers.

Both Kemp and Mulvaney were opposed and all other councilmen in favor. Kemp said he only supported the item restricting truck turns, and Mulvaney said he was only in favor of the truck turn restriction and the parking ban on East Richland Avenue. Mulvaney also said he felt the borough should wait on parking restrictions until it has the mechanism to enforce them with a police department.

While council was considering banning parking on the east side of South Cherry Street between Park and Maple avenues, multiple residents of the street came forward to oppose the restriction. They said parking is already limited and some people park in a yellow zone by stop signs, limiting line of sight for drivers turning.

A state police representative present Tuesday said that, while state police cannot enforce local traffic ordinances, it can issue citations for violators of state parking laws like the ban on parking within 30 feet of a stop sign. He requested that residents reach out to dispatch with more information about the specific places this is happening.

“And you guys don’t think speeding’s gonna increase on Railroad Street if you get rid of parking on one side?” asked Mayor Dane Bicher.

Kirsch responded that drivers along the road are already speeding.

In other news, council:

• Unanimously approved Snyder Environmental Services with the main interceptor lining project, with a low bid of $412,526. Two bidders were disqualified due to failure to submit required bid documents. This cost is in line with estimates for the partially grant-funded project.

• Unanimously awarded AH Moyer with the Walnut Alley drainage improvements project, with a low bid of $393,072.
• Unanimously agreed to waive East Washington Avenue curb and sidewalk requirements from a March 10 motion, with the West Jefferson Avenue portion remaining in effect.
• Discussed possible removal of Elizabeth Martin from the Recreation Board due to failure to attend meetings, but opted to give her a warning as she said she wanted to remain on the board. Leonard said board members have a right to stay until the end of their term, but that if expectations are laid out and Martin continues to not attend meetings, council would be justified in removing her.
• Uanimously agreed to appoint Nathan Yang to a vacant seat on the Recreation Board.
• Unanimously approved a 50% discount on pool season pass memberships for the rest of the season.
• Unanimously approved a renewed rental agreement with the Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging for the senior center with a 3% rent increase.
• Read a letter from a resident voicing inability to pay upfront costs for curb and sidewalk replacement at her home along Railroad Street. Council directed manager Michael McKenna to reach out to her about possible payment plans, which the borough has previously offered to residents.
• Heard that the park’s pickleball fence has been installed.
• Unanimously approved minutes, bills, and reports.

Council holds its regular meeting the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and a workshop the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings, held at 101 S. Railroad St., are open to the public and do not require prior registration.