Development News for St. Marys, Pennsylvania

Dr. Julia Wonderling Appointed Physician to Board of Health

Dr. Julia Wonderling was appointed as the physician for the Department of Health's Board of Health, filling a vacant position. The council received a letter of interest and recommended her approval. The motion to appoint was made by Shane and seconded by Tony.

City Awards Contracts for Stone and Road Oils

The City Council awarded bids for stone and road oils for the remainder of the year. For stone materials, bids were awarded to Bulmer Paving for 2A, 1B, and 2B limestone, and to Bucktail Excavators for number three limestone, DSA, and native pit sandstone. Midland Asphalt Bloomsburg was awarded the bids for road oils (E2E3 at MC70 and MC30, and RS 2PM or CRS2PM) as the lowest responsible bidder.

City Council Addresses Growing Concerns Over E-bike Use on Sidewalks

The council discussed concerns regarding the increasing use of e-bikes on sidewalks, particularly in commercial districts, and their potential safety risks. A resident reported near-accidents and mentioned an incident in Bradford involving an e-bike crash. The police chief acknowledged it as a growing problem faced by many communities. Currently, city code prohibits bicycle operation on public sidewalks in commercially zoned districts, but there's a discussion about expanding regulations due to varying e-bike classifications (wattage, battery size) and speeds. Other municipalities are developing ordinances, and the city plans to monitor these developments and potentially adapt its own code.

City to Publish Proposed Weed Height Limit Amendment to Property Maintenance Code

The City Council voted to publish a proposed amendment to the International Property Maintenance Code (2021 edition). The amendment aims to incorporate a 10-inch height limit for weeds, aligning it with the city's existing quality of life ordinance (Section 8). This change is requested to standardize enforcement procedures for new code enforcement staff, allowing them to use the International Property Maintenance Code for violations instead of solely relying on Section 8. The code currently uses the 1998 edition, and the proposed change will undergo public comment.