Residents continued to address potential parking and safety concerns in the Lonaconing East development during the Berlin Borough Council meeting Thursday, Oct. 10, after council stated during the meeting that it does not have any plans to restrict parking at this time.
At last month’s meeting, three residents informed council they had been seeking a remedy regarding parking issues in front of their homes for nearly a year, citing that their neighbor, who owns seven cars, was making it difficult for other residents to safely exit their driveway, as well as impede on their ability to place trash cans on the side of the road.
Councilman Andrew Simone stated during his report that council has been in communication with the Berlin Police Department, as well as the development’s homeowners association. Simone said the HOA reported to council that parking issues have been reduced in recent weeks.
The Berlin Police Department also issued a response regarding the situation. According to documents received by The Sun, Chief Millard Wilkinson issued a directive to officers of the ongoing parking complaint in the development, reminding them to enforce any parking infractions in the Lonaconing East development.
“This is to include blocking of driveways, fire hydrants and having unregistered vehicles on the roadway,” said the directive.
Potential remedies at the location, such as a sign that would restrict parking, are not desired, according to HOA members that attended the meeting. Furthermore, Simone stated council and the police department would not look to impose changes in the development the HOA did not agree to.
“It is the opinion of the Berlin Borough Police Department that all parking issues can be managed with state statutes and current parking conditions do not reach a level to enact a parking ordinance at this specific location,” said Simone. “Based on these two responses, the governing body agreed that no action will be taken at this time.”
Despite the decision, two residents continued to voice their displeasure with inaction in the development.
“This issue has really been going on for approximately two years now and the parking situation is caused by primarily one household,” said Cynthia Jennings, in an interview after the meeting. “I was hoping that council would hear the safety concerns, as well as the inability to put trash cans out on trash night, and I was hoping they would resolve the issue for the residents that are having a problem.
“I think the right thing to do would be to implement an ordinance throughout the development to restrict parking and only implement when someone actually makes a complaint about it; however, in order to impact fewer residents, I would have been happy with the decision to address the problem in the one area we’re talking about in front of three houses,” added Jennings.
Jennings, along with Peggy Donaldson, say borough officials have visited their residence in recent months and some agreed the parking situation is difficult to maneuver. Because of this, they say they are confused by the decision to not implement change when they are continuing to have problems, despite what the HOA has stated.
“How was it a safety concern before but now it isn’t, even though nothing has changed?” Donaldson asked.
In other news:
- Simone stated the borough distributed papers further explaining recycling standards for the single-stream process to better help residents.
- Simone said the Department of Public Works is looking to purchase a 6,000-gallon brine solution storage tank in order to store solution within the borough to cut down on trips to Voorhees Township, since the borough utilizes a Shared Services Agreement.
- Councilman Rick Miller said the trick-or-treating hours for the borough will be 4 to 8 p.m. during Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 31.
