Council Discusses Venomous Reptiles in the Borough

Before approving the minutes of the August meeting, Monday evening, Sept. 5, Williamsburg Borough Council member Ed Patterson said a change needed to be made to last month's minutes, where he made the motion to start the process for a venomous reptiles ordinance banning the reptiles in the borough.

According to Patterson, a lot of local municipalities like Roaring Spring and Hollidaysburg have similar ordinances.

The proposed ordinance once passed would not prohibit current owners of the venomous reptiles if they act in accordance to current ordinance and correct signage. Jessie Hammel, who owns the venomous snakes being discussed the last couple of months in the Borough was in attendance at the meeting, and said that they are in compliance with all necessary standards and procedures outlined by the Borough and personally extended an invitation to the Borough Council members to come to her home, and see the lock and key set-up of the venomous reptiles.

Fire Chief Travis Prough talked to council members about applying for a grant through the Blair County Planning Commission for a new engine for their tanker. Their 2004 tanker currently has a 1995 engine in it, and a new engine can cost anywhere from $520,000-$550,000. The biggest issue, according to Prough, is manpower and water – and with a new engine, it can bring "more water available than what we do now."

Prough said that the grant needs to go through a local municipality. He asked if Borough would back them. Ed Patterson made a motion to back fire company, which passed.

Chief of Police Rowdy Kagarise said he talked with Solicitor Nathan Karn about the loitering complaints brought up at last month's meeting. Karn said that there was a loitering ordinance in State College Borough that could be used if the borough wanted to go that route, but Attorney Jeff Murcieak who was in attendance at the meeting on behalf of Karn, warned there are "legal and constitutional considerations," instituting an ordinance like that.

"The problem isn't as bad as it was," Councilman Ed Patterson said during the discussion.

Murcieak gave the loitering definition to council that was in the State College ordinance.

Kagarise warned the council, "We just really need to be careful," and suggested each council member receive a copy of the State College ordinance and have more discussion on the topic at the next meeting.

Borough Manager Joe Lansberry said that the borough received a check of $5,000 from WAID in lieu of taxes.

Lansberry showed the 9/11 Trail signs received by the borough and wanted some input on where to put the two signs. Ideas were the bottom of Short Mountain and at the Rails to Trails trailhead. No further discussion was held.