D.O.R.A. PLANS MOVE FORWARD — Toronto Council moved forward with plans Monday to establish a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in the central business section of the city. An ordinance for the proposed area will undergo two more readings following a public review period, during which plans for it may be viewed at the City Building. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — Plans to designate an area where patrons of four local establishments may carry an alcoholic beverage in public moved forward with Toronto Council’s approval of an ordinance on Monday.

Mayor John Parker said the ordinance may be tweaked before it undergoes second and third readings, and a 30-day public review period, during which citizens may view plans for it at the City Building.

Council heard earlier from local business owners Abby LeMasters and Phil Livingston, who advised more than 100 Ohio municipalities have Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas, or D.O.R.A.s, which are intended to attract additional visitors to specific commercial areas.

They said, within such areas, customers of designated establishments may obtain a labeled 16-ounce cup they may take outside and to other places within that zone.

As proposed to Toronto Council, the cup may be filled with beer, wine or liquor but may not be refilled, with patrons required to purchase a new cup if they want another alcoholic drink.

The ordinance presented to council calls for Toronto’s D.O.R.A. to include North Fourth Street from Clark Street to Main Street and Market Street from North Fifth Street to North Third Street.

Alcoholic beverages in the designated cups could be carried from Baby-Boyz BBQ, Tri B’s Coffee Shop, Frog’s Place, the American Legion Post and Eagles Lodge outside and to other establishments within the D.O.R.A. between noon and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday throughout the year.

Plans call for at least 20 signs to mark the boundaries of the D.O.R.A.

First Ward Councilman Clark Crago asked about enforcement against those carrying cups outside the D.O.R.A. and was told anyone doing so would receive an open container citation and face a $250 fine.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey noted the ordinance acknowledges the city’s police and fire departments and the TEMS Joint Ambulance District would be responsible for providing police and fire protection and emergency medical aid.

He noted it also states the heads of those agencies may schedule additional personnel for times when special events are being held in the D.O.R.A., which he noted is a budgetary issue.

Burkey suggested further input be sought from the police and fire departments, which the city provides, and TEMS, which is an independent agency.

Crago, who is TEMS’ director, agreed.

Fourth Ward Councilman Greg Herrick suggested a public hearing be held on the proposal.

Council agreed to hold one at 6 p.m. on July 28. Council’s next regular meeting, at which council will consider the ordinance’s second reading, will follow at 7 p.m.

In other business:

• Bill Lucas, chairman of the city’s planning and zoning commission, said crews with Modarelli Excavating of Poland, Ohio, have been hired by the Jefferson County Land Bank to demolish the former Cooper Hardware building at 300 Market St. for $121,700.

He said equipment for the job is expected to arrive later this week, with the work expected to be completed later this month, though the contractor has 60 days from his July 10 signing of the contract.

He noted officials with the land bank earlier hired Raze International of Shadyside for the removal of asbestos from the three-story structure.

City officials have reported the building’s roof has collapsed, and bricks have fallen from it.

Plans call for its lot to be conveyed to the city, where an amphitheater may be built.

Parker said he’s already obtained some benches for it and will seek additional funds to complete it.

• Council was advised the city’s swimming pool has been closed just three of the 30 days since it opened for the summer.

Following the meeting, Parker confirmed the pool has closed earlier than posted at times because of a lack of lifeguards needed to provide sufficient supervision.

He said that and the difficulty of seeing the bottom of the pool’s deep end at night were the reasons it wasn’t open on the night of the city’s fireworks display. He said additional supervision is needed when the entire pool can’t be seen clearly, but he’s pursuing lighting for that area for next year.

Parker said he hopes the pool can remain open until Labor Day weekend, but it has become difficult because student lifeguards resign earlier to return to school or for school activities.

• Council agreed to donate $1,000 to the Toronto High School Band in response to a request for funds to aid members who can’t afford its costs.

• It was announced the mayor has secured a $20,000 grant from the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Foundation for a structure to house a batting cage at the city’s youth baseball field.

• Burkey, who chairs council’s finance committee, announced preliminary findings from the city’s state-required audit will be shared at a public meeting to be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the City Building.

It also was announced council and the Toronto school board’s joint park and recreation board won’t meet in August. Its next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept 2 at the Karaffa Recreation Center.

• Following council’s approval of the sale of city-owned property at 110 and 112 North Fourth Street, the mayor will accept bids for the two vacant lots up to 10 a.m. July 25.

Parker confirmed an undisclosed business has expressed interest in the property, which is zoned commercial, but the city must sell it through the bidding process.

• Council President Frank McEwen applauded the efforts of volunteers behind the Gem City Wing Fest, a new festival that debuted July 5, and the city’s fireworks display; and city crews and emergency department personnel who supported it.