Oct 12, 2005 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

WEST BROWNSVILLE – After hearing complaints from local residents about burning, the West Brownsville Borough council decided to amend their burning ordinance to only allow burning on the fourth Saturday of each month. President Pat Maxon said that she understood the complaints about people burning tires and other materials that emit toxic smoke into the air.

“I also like to have my windows open and to sit on my porch and I am also not able to do that on the days people burn,” said Maxon.

Since burning was permitted in the borough on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Maxon said that was too often for people to abuse the burning privilege, thus causing a health hazard to the borough’s elderly population.

“It’s not fair to people with allergies and people who are ill,” said Maxon, adding that she thought it might be best to ban burning completely.

Councilman Phil Coleman made the motion that the council amend ordinance 272 to say that burning is only permitted on the fourth Saturday of each month, and residents may only burn approved materials such as paper and brush at that time.

Councilmen Coleman, John Petro, George Lacey and Maxon voted in favor of the motion, while councilmen Larry Beck and Gary Bennett voted against it. Vice President Dan Kendall was absent.

Beck said he voted against the amendment because he felt that it might prevent some residents from cleaning up their properties.

Mayor Martin Brockman suggested that the maximum fine, which is $600 according to the borough’s ordinance, be issued for violations, since burning of man-made materials has become a big problem in the borough.

The council agreed to enforce the ordinance with a $600 fine for violators.

In another matter, Gerald Mayers asked the board about its intention regarding a bill he had presented to the borough after damages were incurred to his basement. He said that it happened in August when the fire department ran 1,000 gallons of water into a sewage pipe near his home, causing his basement to flood with sewage.

The borough solicitor advised Mayers that no insurance policy would cover the damage, since it was not a sewage line in use by the borough, and the borough could not be held responsible.

Mayers said he intended to hire an attorney to help him recover what was lost in repairing the damages.

In other matters, the council announced that they will hold a budget meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m., and they will change their November meeting to Nov. 1, since Election Day is on the second Tuesday of the month.

They also announced that there will be Trick or Treat in West Brownsville on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.