Mar 16, 2017 By Rachel Basinger for The 3 min read

SCOTTDALE — Mayor Chuck King’s veto of a parking ordinance stands after borough council failed to produce enough votes to overturn it at its meeting this week.

Last month, a motion passed four votes to three to enact the ordinance. One member of council was absent.

Jeff Wishart, owner of JJs Pizza on Pittsburgh Street, previously asked council to approve a parking ordinance that would allow delivery service businesses that don’t have parking behind their business to have one on-street parking spot directly in front of the business designated strictly for that business’ delivery service vehicle.

Wishart said parking far away from the business is inconvenient.

The ordinance includes an annual fee of $480 to lease the space, a $50 application fee and a $50 fee for the expense of the sign and the installation.

King asked members of council to carefully consider the ramifications of the ordinance before they voted last month.

“I think this is going to lead to more requests, and with the bump outs and not having a meter person at this time, this is going to lead to a can of worms, in my opinion,” he said. “I’m totally against it. It’s nothing personal. It’s what I think is going to happen to this town.”

When the vote passed, he said he would invoke his right to veto.

Solicitor Gary Falatovich told council that in order to override the veto they would need to have a motion pass with six total votes in favor of overturning the veto, which is the majority of the eight council members (five) plus one more.

On Monday, council members Andy Pinskey and Jim Pallygus were absent from the meeting, leaving a total of just six council members to vote on overriding the veto.

Council members Jack Davis and Don Stansak voted against the motion while council members Michael Siwula, Robert Close, Troy Soberdash and Bud Santimyer voted in favor of overriding the veto, but the motion failed for lack of obtaining six total votes in favor.

Davis pointed out that any council member who voted against overriding the veto had the ability to bring the ordinance up again for a vote. Falatovich added that council could revisit the issue at any time.

During public comment, Wishert expressed his disappointment over the veto and presented a petition signed by 162 people from the area who were in support of the ordinance.

“I didn’t come to council to make enemies over this ordinance — all I wanted was one parking spot out front to allow my business to run more efficiently and safer,” Wishert said.

King responded saying, “If I wanted to play politics, I could probably have gotten 10 pages of signatures (against), but I won’t do that. That’s politics at its best.”

In other business, borough manager Angelo Pallone will be seeking proposals from different structural engineers or architects to inspect the Scottdale Community Pool building.

Also, Pallone asked members of council to provide him within the next week their list of streets they feel need to be included in this year’s paving project. He urged members of the public to submit their ideas as well.

A motion passed to purchase and install a handicapped accessible door at the entrance of the borough building.

Finally, Davis reported that they do have a couple of people interested in the meter person position. He hopes to present a name to council for approval at the next meeting.