No Fooling, Easton Really Wants to Clean Up Streets After a Hard Winter

No fooling, street sweeping will resume in
the City of Easton on April 1, city
officials say.

By Christina Georgiou

The city will resume its regular street sweeping schedule next week on Tuesday, April 1, and city officials say they are serious about enforcing no parking ordinances to get the job done.

"It's no April Fool's joke. After this winter, the streets really need to be swept," said City Administrator Glenn Steckman at Easton's city council meeting Wednesday evening.

The city began leaving bright pink flyers on cars along city street sweeping routes this week to remind residents to move their cars on street sweeping routes during designated times, Mayor Sal Panto said.

"We're trying to be proactive so we don't have to give people tickets," the mayor said.

Steckman said even one car left on the side of a street on a block being swept makes it impossible for the sweeper to do a thorough job.

Litter and debris left behind after numerous
winter storms lines many of Easton's streets,
and city street sweepers can't get to it
with parked cars in the way.

"It only benefits everyone when we can get all of the cars off one side of the street so we can clean it," he said.

Councilwoman El Warner questioned whether not having a grace period and at first issuing warnings to those that forget to move their cars was really a good idea.

"I mean, I can hear it, 'There's still snow on the street they never cleared, and they're ticketing,'" she said.

"We might be able to give one week," Steckman said.

"We weren't going to announce it, but the cat's out of the bag," Panto added.

Additionally, the city has already begun the process of filling potholes on city streets caused by the cold this winter. Panto said the total cost of several severe storms and extremely low temperatures is still being tallied.

"This has been a rough winter," he said, noting that the city spent about $258,000 on snow removal. "We expect another $100,000 in road repairs and filling pot holes."

In many places in the city, a long, cold snowy winter has
left piles of snow along streets that has yet to melt.

A better estimate of the total costs is expected to be complete by the next city council meeting, and when it is, city officials will then discuss any budget issues, the mayor said.

Both the mayor and city administrator said the harsh weather this winter has given the city the opportunity to learn more about how to handle snow emergencies.

"I think there have been a lot of lessons learned this winter," Steckman said.

Panto suggested the city may implement a robo-call system next year to directly inform residents of impending snow emergencies and to remind them to move their cars.

Additionally, the public works department will be looking at the current snow emergency route map and the possibility of making changes, he said.

No Foolin', Parking Rules Will Be Enforced Starting April 1

By Christina Georgiou


One of the City of Easton's new solar-powered parking
meters. The new meters accept card payments, as well
as nickels, dimes, and quarters.



New parking regulations that were approved by Easton City Council late last year  technically went into effect at the beginning of 2013, but due to the practical considerations of installing new meters and signs, the city hasn't been enforcing the new rules.

All of that is set to change this Monday, on April 1, however, as parking enforcement officers will be actively ticketing those who don't feed their meters or overstay time limits without moving their vehicles, city officials warn.

The new hours for metered parking in the city's Downtown district are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

And, as those who park regularly in the city have probably already noticed, the price of metered curbside parking has also increased, to $1 per hour, which is now payable with a debit or credit card, as well as with change. The new solar-powered smart meters also accept silver coinage--that is, nickels, dimes, and quarters--instead of just quarters, which many had complained was limiting and inconvenient.

There is a $1 minimum fee for those using the card option, though there is no minimum payment for those paying with coins.

In less central areas of the Downtown district, the metered parking rate and times will be the same, but motorists may still need a supply of quarters, as not all the city's parking meters have been converted to those that accept card payments.

There is one consolation for those that get caught and ticketed for overtime parking violations: Those that pay their fine within 24 hours or by the close of the next business day, will get a break, and the fine will be reduced to $15.

The reduction is for overtime metered parking only, city officials have said, and won't be applicable for any other parking violations.

Also beginning on Monday, April 1, the city will once again begin its street sweeping program  for the year, and parking regulations designed to allow sweepers curb access will also be in effect.

Those that fail to move their cars during the designated days and times, as posted on the white signs with red lettering in sweeping zones, will be subject to a fine of $25.

There are no changes to the street sweeping program or schedule this year, but drivers should check the signs on city streets anyway, just to be certain they are aware of the proper times and days anyway, city officials said.