Speed bumps coming to local streets

A proclamation was enthusiastically passed to acknowledge November as Veteran Recognition Month. This year, there will be two events honoring veterans, with a parade scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, November 9 that will follow the usual parade route along High St. and end at St. Patrick’s Church. A separate ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on November 11 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park.

The council discussed the possibility of creating a public park use permit for groups of 25 or fewer that may apply for such small gatherings as weddings, parties, etc. The permit will be set for a two-hour limit, including setup and breakdown, with no loud music allowed and all garbage to be taken out at the end of the event. The park will not be closed to others, as it is a public park and specific locations may be requested, if stated.

Halloween

Milford Bobcat generously donated two lights to be set up at Ann Street Park for Halloween night to improve visibility for trick-or-treaters. Ann Street will be closed to pedestrians, and trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy the festivities from 4 to 8 p.m. The Jive Bar’s request to set up their annual Nightmare on Catherine Street for the October 31st gathering was approved, and East Catherine Street will be blocked off for patrons.

Traffic, safety

Speed bumps will be going in on High Street and West Catharine Street, the latter being changed from Fifth Street as there is perceived to be more traffic along West Catharine. There was discussion about possibly putting in a temporary speed bump on 3rd Street. A campaign to educate the public about driving and pedestrian safety was also suggested. Drivers are reminded that state law dictates they must stop for all pedestrians while crossing the street, even when not in a crosswalk. However, pedestrians must acknowledge that their lack of visibility when attempting to walk across the road in a non-designated area increases the risk of their safety.

Illuminated crosswalks, reflective paint, bumped-out crosswalks, and more will be discussed at the November meeting. PennDOT may approve a four-way red light at the intersection of Broad and Harford to allow pedestrians to cross safely, and a stop sign may be put up at James and 9th streets. Residents are encouraged to attend the November meeting to learn more.

Other business

Planning commissioners’ updates include tabling the discussion of chickens being allowed in the borough until a later date, as they will instead focus on sidewalk safety. Things such as noise, odor, stepbacks, and health are all top concerns and will need further looking into before a decision can be made.

The Luhrs land development was pushed back again, as the DEP has yet to approve the preliminary final approval because of the sewage module.

Concerns and complaints were brought up about political gatherings during special events. During Milford’s Septemberfest, there were political groups blocking sidewalks and obstructing traffic visibility, thus increasing the likelihood of accidents. To keep everyone safe, there was a discussion on redirecting political gatherings to less dangerous intersections, or possibly amending the ordinance so that only one large gathering can take place per day unless stated otherwise.

The renovations for the Catharine Street ballfield were passed and work is expected to begin before the first snowfall. Approval for Phase One of the Ann St. Park renovations was also passed, with work expected to begin after the new year.

The Milford Police Department was approved for new body cameras and a request for support by the Pike County Library was also approved, citing the wonderful work the library does for the community.