TREVORTON - Zerbe Township authorities will not ticket owners of recreational vehicles parked on township streets unless their placement constitutes a safety hazard.
During a meeting Monday night, township supervisors heard from residents regarding disputes between those who own campers and recreational vehicles and their neighbors - and accusations that the police department is not doing enough to solve parking problems.
"There is harassment going on here when the neighbor has parked his vehicle across the street from his home, where my property is," said resident Jim Bronkoski, of Market Street. "The ordinance on the books is not being enforced, and that vehicle hasn't been moved since April 26."
According to the ordinance, all recreational vehicles, such as campers, motor homes and boats can be parked on public streets from April 15 to Sept. 15, but solicitor Roger Wiest II said that it is an optional ordinance and it's up to the discretion of borough police to enforce it.
All three supervisors agreed last year that the ordinance needs to be amended to bring it up to date. They received a copy of a tougher ordinance from Berks County and asked Wiest to review it.
Wiest read a letter he sent to the supervisors on the matter, stating he feels the ordinance should be rescinded.
"In my legal opinion, the ordinance gives too much of a blanket response to what is or is not permitted," Wiest said Monday. "It's like saying that hatchbacks or blue cars shouldn't be allowed anymore. This is a neighbor dispute and if someone feels there is harassment going on, get private counsel and prove it. The township will not fight, get involved or use its power to solve a dispute between neighbors."
In other business, the board met before the meeting with the township's engineer and a legal advisor to discuss the options with the $4 million in grants and loans awarded to the township from PennVEST to build a new sewage treatment plant.
In other business
Permission was granted to:
- CSIU's Pre-K Counts program at Trevorton Elementary to use the recreation area pavilions from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 4.
- Kristy Stiely to coordinate and plan the township's fall festival and Halloween parade.
- Marie Mielke and Patty Beachel to use the pavilion on Aug. 3 for a special kids' carnival.
- A property sale at 115 Coal St. which will close two blocks of Coal Street Saturday, June 1.
All motions were approved on a 3-0 vote with supervisors Michael Schwartz, Mike Mazer and Gene Geise voting yes.
Supervisors also announced the township's recycling center will no longer accept plastic bags.