Politics & Government

Leetsdale Votes to Increase Parking Fines and Rental Inspection Fees

The increases in fines and fees will help cover borough costs.

voted Thursday night to advertise an ordinance amendment that would increase parking fines in the borough.

Parking violators would have to fork out a  for each violation, up from the current $15 parking penalty.

The amendment passed 4-2, with Councilmen Osman Awad and Roger Nanni voting against the hike. Councilman Wes James was absent.

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Council President Joseph McGurk last month said the police chief suggested the increase for parking. Solicitor Megan Ott reviewed the traffic ordinance before preparing a draft amendment.

"We got feedback from the police that it was barely worth their time and effort, just because the fines were so low," Ott said.

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said the police wrote 15 tickets on Thursday alone. A total of 33 tickets were given out last week and 32 the week prior.

Awad said he voted against the increase because some residents being ticketed on street sweeping days have no place to relocate their cars, particularly Beaver Street residents. Street sweeping takes place Wednesdays on Broad Street and Thursdays on Beaver Street.

“Some people complained to me about it,” Awad said.

An ordinance must be advertised before it is passed. 

Council also approved a resolution to increase the landlord–tenant rental inspection fee to $50 per inspection. The fee, raised from $25, pertains to a program that requires rental properties to be inspected. The cost covers visits and interview work.

McGurk said the James Ivancic, code enforcement officer, did 145 first visit inspections last year and made 100 to 120 follow up inspections, or second visits. The cost was about $45 per inspection, although the landlord only pays the borough $25, leaving Leetsdale to absorb the difference. 

"It's not an attempt for the borough to benefit financially from it," McGurk said, "but to make sure the costs are covered."


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