The Amity Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on Sept 16 to advertise for adoption an amendment to its parking ordinance, which would include a daily $40 fine for illegally parked trucks, campers, boats, dumpsters, and storage containers on township streets.
Board Chairperson Kimberly J. McGrath and Supervisor David Hackett were absent from the meeting.
Board members said in May that they want to regulate and enforce the size and also the length of time that large vehicles and other equipment are parked on the streets.
They said wide vehicles, dumpsters, and construction trucks cause “line of sight” issues, particularly on narrow streets and streets that allow parking on both sides.
Township Engineer John Weber said the township’s current ordinance only has sections for recreational vehicle (RV) parking.
The amended ordinance would include three subsections: Recreational Vehicles (RVs), trucks and commercial vehicles (including storage Pods), and construction trucks.
Supervisor Richard L. Gokey proposed the ordinance due to trucks that park on both sides of narrow streets, such as in the Amity Gardens area.
“When two vehicles can’t pass in the street, we have a problem. We really have nothing for Code Enforcement Officer Steve Loomis to enforce,” said Gokey on May 6.
Township Solicitor Brian F. Boland said the maximum fine for general parking violations is $50.
The current fine is $15.Board members agreed that the $40 fine “gets the message across that you need to move your (vehicle) car.”
Andrew Heifer, a member of the Exeter Ambulance Association (EAA) Board of Directors, said the EAA will shut down its transport system on Oct. 15.
He said EAA will then begin selling its vehicles.
Heifer hopes to have by that time a positive response from Amity Township Supervisors regarding EAA’s request for proposal (RFP) to be the township’s primary ambulance service provider.
The RFP is being drafted by Amity supervisors.
Exeter Township Supervisors withdrew their financial support to EAA in January.
Heifer said EAA’s contract with St. Joseph Regional Health Network, Reading, will end on Oct. 15.
Despite the recent addition of EAA to Amity Township’s emergency run card system, Heifer said being listed as third or fourth call would not provide a sufficient call volume to sustain EAA.
The township’s first ambulance responder is currently Southern Berks Regional EMS.
“We’re not satisfied with the response time with our present service,” said Gokey.
“We’re hoping for bids from as many services as we can get that fit the necessary criteria. We want financially solvent — it’s important that whoever we choose that they stay around for a while.”
“This is an opportunity for Amity Township, which needs an ambulance, to go forward,” said Heifer, adding that the EAA board is discussing joint ventures with the Amity and Monarch fire departments, contingent upon Amity’s acceptance of their RFP.
He also informed the board that EAA Chief of Operations Jonathan W. Herbsleb has resigned to seek other opportunities.
EAA is seeking a buyer for its ambulance building in Exeter Township.