Pennington Council adopts parking law amendment

COUNCIL UPDATE

By John Tredrea
   An amendment to the borough parking ordinance that will allow holiday parking on all of Academy Street and a portion of South Main Street was adopted unanimously by Pennington Borough Council Monday night.
   The measure, which does not list specific holidays or times, was introduced by a unanimous council vote last month.
   The portion of South Main Street covered by the measure runs south from Academy Street to a point 200 feet north of Curlis Avenue. Academy Street, only a few hundred feet long, runs east-west between Main and Burd streets in the central section of the borough.
   The new regulation will be affixed to existing signs and/or on new signs, police Director William Meytrott said.
   The amendment addresses the issue of cars parked on Academy Street and South Main during borough-sponsored holiday concerts on the lawn of the professional center (Howe Commons) at 65 S. Main St.
   In a related matter during the public hearing portion of Monday night’s council meeting, Richard Pratt, a longtime member of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, spoke to the council about a possible parking problem there.
   Mr. Pratt said the one-hour weekday parking limit in front of the church on South Main Street "could be a problem" for funerals, weddings and other events. Police Director Meytrott said he "did not have the authority" to grant exemption from parking regulations. The signs posted in front of Pennington Presbyterian say one-hour parking, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., except Sundays and holidays. There is no time limit on Sundays and holidays.
   Resident Mark Blackwell made a suggestion that Mayor Jim Loper thought good enough to forward to the borough’s Public Safety Committee, chaired by Councilman Weed Tucker.
   The suggestion is to cover problems of the type suggested by Mr. Pratt by selling one time parking permits.
   Pennington’s Holiday Walk, an annual event brought to the borough by the Pennington Business and Professional Association, will be held Dec. 2 this year, Mayor Loper announced during Monday night’s Borough Council meeting.
   It "will be similar to what has been done in years past," the mayor said. During Holiday Walk, held in the downtown area, businesses stay open late. Children meeting with Santa Claus and music from holiday carolers and instrumentalists are among the staples of Holiday Walk.
   Also during Monday night’s meeting, Councilwoman Eileen Heinzel, member in charge of community services, said the community service committee is working on recommending a memorial of some kind for Newt Stewart.
   Mr. Stewart, who lived on South Main Street, died recently. He was a letter carrier in the borough for 36 years. His jazz combo, with Mr. Stewart on drums, played in the town’s Memorial Day Parade for many years.
   Borough Administrator Eugene Danworth reported that all borough property owners have been sent letters by Certified Valuation, which is working on a property revaluation of the borough.
   In each letter, Certified states its recommended assessed value for the property in question. Property owners not satisfied with that recommended value have been meeting with Certified representatives in borough hall, Mr. Danworth said.
   "The process is working out well," he said. Those meetings will continue until Jan. 1. After that, property owners can meet with borough Tax Assessor Toni Sost and, if they wish after meeting with her, the county tax board.
   "April 1 is the deadline," Mr. Danworth said. After that, assessed values will become official.