GIRARDVILLE - The borough council approved a request from the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee to hold the 11th annual parade in Girardville on March 22, beginning at noon and held rain or shine.
The approval at the Jan. 6 borough council meeting provides the official go-ahead from the borough to hold the very popular parade that is sponsored by Jack Kehoe Division 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
"A special events application will be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shortly, and Mayor (Edward) Burns will be handling police security for the event," council President Charles Marquardt said in reading the letter from parade Chairman Joseph J. Wayne.
This year's parade is dedicated to Girardville and its local area schools of the past and present, according to the parade website, girardvilleirishparade.com. The parade committee encourages all public or private grade schools and high schools to participate in this year's parade. For the first time, there will be special awards for participating school bands, marching groups and floats. Registration information and the ability to register online is posted on the website.
The council also approved a written request from Joseph J. Wayne on behalf of the Jack Kehoe Ancient Hibernian House Inc. to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages within the confines of Beech and Line streets on the day of the parade. The letter of request said a written application will be filed with the state Liquor Control Board as required.
In a related action, the council approved a request by the parade committee to increase the permit fee for vendors from $50 to $100.
During the police report, Burns commended the police department on its performance after receiving a compliment from the local magisterial district judge who swore him in earlier in the day.
"When I was getting sworn in as mayor today, the Honorable Christina Hale complimented our police department for doing a great job," Burns said. "She praised the job they are doing. I was also talking with a state trooper a few weeks ago and he complimented the police on doing their job. So they (borough police) should keep doing what they're doing."
The council approved the franchise agreement with Service Electric Cablevision by adopting Ordinance 2014-1. The agreement has a term of 10 years.
Also approved was the annual fire chief agreement for 2014, which includes a payment of $1 per day on a quarterly basis upon receipt of required reports to the borough from fire Chief Frank Zangari, who was reappointed during the reorganization meeting.
During the public portion, resident Edna Labie spoke of a large pile of snow at the 600 block of East Mahanoy Avenue that was plowed either by a private individual or company and asked about the ordinance that snow piles must be removed.
"I think they need a reminder that there is such an ordinance," Labie said.
"That was discussed before the meeting," Burns said.
Labie also spoke of the condition of the recycling area where there are boxes and other items not placed in the bins. Marquardt said the area is monitored by a camera at the municipal building.
"We did find some garbage here and it was turned over to the police department," Marquardt said.
"People have been cited," Burns said.
The next borough council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the municipal building.