Ordinance Training Finally Held for Ford City Officer
Council President Kathy Bartuccio, Vice-President Jerry Miklos and Councilman Josh Abernathy discussed the matter during their work session last night in the Ford City Public Library.
by Jonathan Weaver
Last night, Ford City Borough newest Ordinance Enforcement Officer began their training.
After the Borough Council meeting earlier this month, Borough Manager Eden Ratliff and Mayor Marc Mantini met again to discuss and resolve some procedural issues before local resident Michele Meixelberger was trained by Police Sergeant Mark Brice to enforce parking and property ordinances.
Resident Dorian Cyktich asked council members where the money for Meixelberger to get paid is coming from last night, which Councilman Josh Abernathy answered.
“I get that we don’t have money, but in my household if we don’t have money, something gets cut,” Cyktich said. “Paying twice for the same duties never works.”
Councilmen Abernathy and Jerry Miklos said that a borough policeman was hired specifically to work 10AM-6PM the past several years to enforce parking, but has not resolved the issue – until hopefully now with Meixelberger’s hire.
“The ticket revenue that comes in and during street sweeping is a substantial amount and should cover it – but it has to be enforced,” Abernathy responded.
Several business owners were threatening to leave the Borough, according to Miklos, because no parking was available and after owners only witnessed “sporadic” enforcement from police officers.
“This is where these people make their living – this is their livelihood,” Miklos said. “If they don’t have parking in front of their businesses, they’re losing business.
“We can’t afford to lose one single business in Ford City. We’re trying to bring businesses into town, not trying to find a way for them to exit.”
Training for Ford City Borough Ordinance Enforcement Officer Michele Meixelberger was to take place last night with Police Sergeant Mark Brice after weeks of procedural discussions with Mayor Marc Mantini and Borough Manager Eden Ratliff.
Abernathy and Ratliff both said Meixelberger’s job duties will increase as motorists see her enforcing parking readily.
“Once the parking issue is addressed, we’ll be graduating her on to other ordinances,” the pair said. “We can graduate her to cover occupancy permits. There’s more that she can do. The position is flexible, which is nice.”
Abernathy estimated that when he was on the police force, he could inspect the area in about 30 minutes – even less if he was mobile on a bicycle.
Two weeks ago, Mayor Marc Mantini brought other issues before Council the night of the regular public meeting to get some answers – including who Meixelberger directly worked for – Ford City Borough or Ford City Police Department.
Friday, April 10, Council President Kathy Bartuccio wrote a letter to business owners asking for them to attend the public meeting and ask for Mayor Marc Mantini to uphold his approval of Meixelberger to be hired with Ratliff as supervisor.
Abernathy two weeks ago explained that Ratliff would coordinate Meixelberger’s day-to-day scheduling, but parking tickets would be turned over to officer-in-charge Police Sergeant John Atherton as it normally would.
Zechariah Chambers, a third-generation owner of Chambers Jewelers, attended the February 17 special meeting when council members unanimously voted to hire a part-time ordinance official. But, he has not seen a change in parking enforcement along Ford Street and said it is the biggest complaint among shoppers.
“Since then, there has been no enforcement,” Chambers said. “Last Friday, I called the police department three times with no answer. A white car was parked in front of my store from 8:30AM until 5(PM).
“It’s been this way for 10 years – I have tried and tried and tried to be reasonable, polite, (but) everything I’ve always heard is ‘it’s snowing,’ ‘it’s raining,’ ‘we’re understaffed,’ (or) ‘we’re busy.’ That doesn’t help any of the businesses on Ford Street. Why is it not being resolved?”
In Mayor Mantini’s monthly report, he stated that Borough officers wrote five parking tickets and issued three parking citations during the month of March.
Mayor Mantini said there are about five officers currently working in the police department – including Police Sergeants John Atherton and Mark Brice.
After last night’s meeting, Ratliff said it is not determined yet when Meixelberger will begin enforcing parking due to waiting upon a uniform.
