Brooklawn is determined to stop graffiti
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
"We will have police officers on patrol in unmarked cars and on bicycles in the parks and near the gazebos," Mayor John Soubasis said at last week's Borough Council meeting.
"I feel sorry for the parents when we catch those responsible for graffiti in those areas," he said.
"We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," Soubasis emphasized.
At a previous meeting, the mayor had said he regretted that many of the vandals were local youths. Lights have also been ordered for the gazebo areas and near the Little League field.
Chuck Riebel Jr., borough engineer, said the DEP still has not given an answer for the go ahead on the stream bank improvement project.
The state-ordered study, costing $19,000 and paid for by the state, has indicated that the remains of a building from the 1700s were found in the waterfront bank area.
Soubasis said, "Finding hypodermic needles washing up on the bank is a major issue."
Council hopes to move forward soon on the project once the study is done.
Two ordinances that had raised some controversy at an earlier meeting were okayed on second reading.
Chapter 141 of the Municipal Code was amended to say that fines would be levied for parking violations on streets that are posted as one side only parking, no parking in alleyways and entrances, restricted hours of parking, parking in bus or school lanes, handicapped spots, no parking between curb and sidewalk and in fire zones.
Chapter 124 in the Municipal Code was amended to place restrictions on the placement of basketball standards and other equipment or apparatus on public streets for children to use as recreation.
Nothing should be placed in any public street, right of way or sidewalk. There will be a penalty for any violations.
"We hate to make rules and put up signs, but for safety sakes it has to be done," Soubasis said.
The removal of the eq-uipment also opened up more parking spaces for residents, he said.
Out of 37 known violations of the basketball equipment placement, there was only one hold out on the removal, and two residents came before a judge to explain why they did not remove the equipment.
Author Sara Martino