Martinsburg Borough Council Hears Citizens' Speed, Cat Concerns

Martinsburg Borough’s monthly meeting was highlighted with an audience of community members raising concerns.

First Alley speed

Gloria Hartman of East Allegheny Street expressed her concerns about First Alley, which runs behind her house. Hartman claims she has seen many drivers speed up this alley.

Hartman said she has not seen an accident or close call, but she has seen “the opportunity for danger and damage.”

Hartman provided the council with various scenarios on how a child could get hit by a car. With the alley being so close to Morrisons Cove Memorial Park, Hartman has observed mothers taking one child out of the car and then reaching in to get another child. While the first child is standing there, Hartman said she prays the child doesn’t move and walk into the road.

She noted that her grandchildren play basketball with the hoop on her garage, which is right up against the road.

Hartman suggested that the alley receives signage or a one-way denotation.

Chief of Police Kerry Hoover asked if she noticed the same vehicles or residents along the alley driving fast. Hartman did not notice the same people, but thought they might be leaving a garage up the street that works on vehicles.

Hoover said police can patrol the alley and they will address residents living along the alley to inform them of the concerns.

A committee to work on this issue was created. Janet Blattenberger, James Dell, Darin Meck, Rich Brantner Jr., and Hoover will be on this committee. Hoover and Brantner noted that they have discussed where signs could be put up in the alley.

The cat problem

Bob Carper and daughter Dione Metzger of Locust Street attended the meeting to discuss an ongoing issue with cats in their neighborhood.

Carper and Metzger claim that their neighbor feeds 10 to 13 stray cats. These cats then go to Carper’s shrubbery and defecate. Metzger’s dogs then eat these feces. The dogs have had to be treated for worms at least twice, Metzger said.

“I don’t want to cause hardships for this resident, but I can’t afford to keep going to the vet,” Carper said.

Carper also noted the food set out for the cats attracts other wildlife, such as groundhogs and skunks.

According to Carper, they sent a letter to the council and police department explaining this issue and asking for help at the beginning of June.

Hoover said this letter came straight to him. According to Hoover, he spoke to the resident’s son on June 3, who assured him that they were no longer feeding the cats. Hoover said he has gone past the residence multiple times and has not seen food set out. Hoover also said he had been in touch with the Humane Society and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) to see if anything can be done about the cats.

Hoover had not heard anything else about the cat issue until Saturday, July 30.

Hoover saw Carper, who had photographic proof of the neighbor feeding cats. Carper said he may know people who will adopt the cats, if he is permitted to catch them. Hoover is checking with the Humane Society and TNR to make sure this would be okay.

Metzger expressed concern that capturing the cats and taking them away will not fix the problem, as it is her belief that the resident will continue leaving food out and attracting animals.

Metzger claimed that the police department’s Facebook page posted about laws surrounding dogs. She felt the department should stay responsible to what it’s posting, as she had never heard a follow-up on the issue and believed the police department and borough council were not doing anything.

According to Hoover, “Dogs have a different set of laws.”

According to Solicitor Matt Gieg, cats are an “amorphous legal issue,” as cats are not considered personal property. However, if someone feeds a cat, they take ownership of it.

Carper and Metzger said they have spoken to their neighbor, and she “did not want to hear” what they had to say. Carper and Metzger said her son told them to shoot the cats.

The father and daughter told the council they just want something to be done about the issue.

Hoover said he will speak to the resident again, and with the Human Society’s and TNR’s advice, they will catch the cats and give them away.

Ordinance

Gieg told the council that Brantner showed him an ordinance that Roaring Spring adopted that requires residents to get a permit to have a dumpster on the road.

Brantner said dumpsters sitting on the road can cause damage, especially in the summer.

The permit will cost a nominal fee.

This ordinance will be combined with the nuisance ordinance discussed at last month’s meeting regarding lawn height.

Police cruiser

Hoover informed the council that he has been looking into prices for a new police cruiser. This purchase will be included in next year’s budget. According to Hoover, at most, the borough could end up paying more than $47,000.

Hoover found a 2022 Ford Explorer for around $35,900. The cruiser could be here by the fall of this year. The council voted to purchase this vehicle, possibly using funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Compost cleanup

Brantner spoke to Terry Long about cleaning up the compost site. For nine hours worth of work, this would cost the borough $2,700. This money will be taken from the reserve fund, where the money generated from the compost site is put.

Increase police pay

After an executive session, the borough council voted to raise the wages for the police department.

“The police department wages are below what they should be to retain policemen,” President Rob Dickson said.

The raises were laid out as follows:

• Chief of Police – $1.25 more an hour

• Lieutenant – $1.25 more an hour

• Patrolman – $2.50 more an hour

• Part-time officer – $2 more an hour

Chief Hoover thanked the council for this unexpected increase.