Craig Howell PARKING RESTRICTIONS – New Cumberland Council voted 4-0, with two absences, Monday, on the first reading of an ordinance to establish no parking zones at a series of selected intersections. The proposal is in relation to concerns with vehicles not being able to safely turn onto those streets.

NEW CUMBERLAND – Following several months of discussions, New Cumberland Council is taking a step to alleviate parking issues in one of the city’s residential neighborhoods.

As part of Monday’s meeting, council approved the first reading of Ordinance 26-001, establishing no-parking zones at designated street intersections.

“The purpose of this ordinance is to promote public safety,” Mayor Will White noted in reading the ordinance prior to a vote.

The ordinance was derived through a series of issues with parking in the area of Second Avenue, in particular with emergency vehicles having difficulty accessing the area because of vehicles being parked at the edge of the intersections.

Under the terms of the ordinance, the city would establish 20-foot no-parking zones at select intersections.

Council is not making the regulation uniform across the entire city at this time, with plans instead to focus on the area which has been of concern. This would include the intersections of Second Avenue and Third Avenue with Grant Street, Lincoln Street and Porter Street.

“I say we start at those areas,” Police Chief Lester Skinner said.

The ordinance received a 4-0 vote Monday, although it must go through a second reading before going into effect. Councilmembers Penny Spilecki and Jo Ellen Kessel were not in attendance Monday.

The parking concerns were discussed during New Cumberland Council’s April meeting, with officials then noting residents from the area had been invited to attend and express their thoughts. No one from those streets attended council’s April meeting, nor was there anyone in attendance Monday.

It previously was noted that not all residents in the area have off-street parking available to them, but officials have suggested the possibility of using space in alleyways in the area to alleviate some of those issues.

In other business Monday, New Cumberland Council agreed to have a survey performed on New Cumberland City Park, which borders an area now under construction for a state Route 2 realignment project in the city; approved the purchase of additional cameras on River Avenue for $975; approved the purchase of three benches and four planters to be installed at 411 Ridge Ave. and on River Avenue at a cost of $6,526.58; and agreed to close out the Community Partner checking account and distribute the $400 in the account to two families who lost their homes in a fire in December.