Apr 15, 2003 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

DAWSON – The borough council agreed on several items Monday to help make the Tri-Town Historical Society Homecoming weekend safe for residents and visitors. John Pyda asked that the PennDOT street sweeper be brought in to town to clean up the ashes and salt from winter maintenance on Route 819. Pyda also asked the council to block off a portion of the highway for the festival, scheduled for June 6-8.

The council agreed to the requests and also said that they would buy or fix several yellow flashing hazard lights that will be used to warn motorists that a portion of the highway is closed to traffic.

Councilman John Nudo made a motion to have hazard lights fixed, and if they can’t be fixed, he agreed to purchase new ones for the safety of the town.

Council also agreed to allow Pyda to have George F. Ansell’s name changed on the Memorial Wall. Pyda said the name now reads George C. Ansell instead of George F. Ansell.

In other unrelated matters, Councilwoman Donna Martin, who has served on the council for about eight years, said she would resign next month due to personal reasons.

Council President Patty Lint said the board hopes Martin will change her mind, but if that doesn’t happen, anyone interested in serving on the council should submit a letter to secretary Mary Jane Winterhalter.

Lint also said that a second spot on the council will be open because Councilwoman Cathy Trimble has decided not to run for re-election. A third council member, Emerson Long, has not been attending meetings because he is in New Jersey awaiting deployment orders to go to the Persian Gulf.

In other matters, Police Chief Roger Adams asked the council to change the curfew ordinance, which states that he must warn a person under age 18 twice before he can file curfew violation citations at the local district justice’s office.

Adams asked the council to rework the ordinance to say that the first time he catches a juvenile out after the 9:30 p.m. curfew, he issues a warning and the second time he can file charges.

“I told you months ago that we were going to be cracking down on these kids,” said Adams.

“Well, we have, and it’s working. I have had one hearing already and I’m planning to have a large hearing with several juveniles and their parents real soon.”

Adams asked the council to redraft the curfew ordinance as soon as possible, stating that the weather is getting better and that minors will want to take advantage of it.

The council also conducted the following business:

– Heard from Adams, who warned residents that if he catches anyone burning in the borough on Sundays, he will fine them. Solicitor Richard Husband said he thinks a burning violation fine could cost residents up to $300.

– Granted permission for Nudo to have the borough workers clean up the ash/salt pile on Howell and Galley streets.

– Learned that juveniles are damaging the tennis courts on River Road and Galley Street.

– Agreed to order five decorative lights and a decorative clock for town. Winterhalter said the borough received a $5,000 grant for the project.