Parking Restrictions a 'Dead' Issue in Baldwin Boro

Don't expect new parking restrictions in anytime soon.

Larry Brown, the chairman of the Baldwin Council's Public Safety Committee, called potential new parking rules in the borough a "dead" issue on Tuesday during an interview following the night's council meeting.

Brown was asked to comment on that had been recommended for restrictions. The restrictions ranged from no parking at all times to one-side-only parking to no parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.

"It didn't have the consensus votes to bring it up on the agenda," Brown said, "so it's dead."

Added council President David Depretis, "There's just not enough support to get it on the agenda."

The list of streets was put together through recommendations made by officials from Baldwin's fire companies.  as a reason for the potential restrictions, as had the need to .

Mayor Alexander R. Bennett Jr. said that, despite his desire to see streets emptier, he recognized that not everyone in the borough would be able to obey the restrictions due to a number of reasons—, et al.

"The rule of thumb, back in the (19)50s," Bennett said, "when a lot of (Baldwin's) homes were built ... a driveway usually accommodated a car-and-a-half. That situation, you know, has changed.

"The husband and wife have a car, separately (today). Then, if you have a child living with you, there's another one. And you got three cars in the home.

"So, as a police officer and a volunteer fireman years ago, yes, I would like the streets clear, especially in the wintertime, because driving is dangerous in the wintertime. But it's very difficult to have a policy surrounding that."

Bennett said that he would be open to granting permits on a case-by-case basis to borough parkers who would violate potential restrictions, but with no new restrictions coming, permits should not be expected anytime soon, either.

Check back with the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch later on Wednesday for a recap of Tuesday night's council meeting.

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