City of Hometown City Council met Sept. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Call to The Ordinance Committee meeting of the City Council of the City of Hometown was Order: called to order by Mayor Casey at 7:00 P.M.
Roll Call: Roll call indicated that the following committee members were present: Chairman Reynolds, Alderman Banasiak and Alderman Beyer.
Also present: Clerk Hacker, Treasurer Roti, Building Commissioner James Forbes, Public Health and Safety Director Bonnie Gesiakowski, Aldermen Kurysz, Walsh, Smith and Grochowski.
Mayor Casey turned the meeting over to Commissioner Forbes.
Commissioner Forbes stated if we are not doing anything with off street overnight parking we must do something about driveways. There is a house on Beck Place that was very narrow and two cars could not be parked next to each other. Director Trlak and Commissioner Forbes allowed them to enlarge their driveway by eight feet in front of their house. Commissioner Forbes suggested the Aldermen go by and view how this looks. The address of the property was estimated as 8801 Beck Place (it is actually 8809 Beck Place.) There was full discussion including the fact that many residents that have a sidewalk adjacent to the driveway are using it to park on, others are parking on gravel or grass adjacent to the driveways. Mayor Casey stated the days of one car are gone and with a code change we will be giving residents an option for parking all cars on their driveway and not on the street overnight or on the grass next to the driveways. Commissioner Forbes stated the curb must be cut when enlarging the driveway. The materials must be the same in our code currently. Commissioner Forbes will write something up for the next meeting and if approved the Aldermen can ask the attorney to prepare the changes for approval at the next City Council Meeting.
Commissioner Forbes stated, currently our code states fences can only be four (4) feet from the back of the house to the front in driveways. Many residents are asking for and getting approved for years now six (6) foot fences and gates for privacy and to keep dogs from jumping the fence. The Zoning Board has approved the change, Commissioner Forbes stated he has allowed some recently rather than send them before the Zoning Board since they were approving them so it makes sense to change the code. There was full discussion regarding the safety aspect, will the PD be able to see in the yards. There was also discussion regarding Code Enforcement being able to see rear yards. The Consensus among the Aldermen present was to approve the change with three (3) Aldermen stating they wanted the Police Department’s approval on the change.
Commissioner Forbes stated he is getting questions regarding metal roofs. Our code currently does not state they can not be installed. There was discussion on this matter. It was decided to table it as very few people have asked.
Mayor Casey asked what about patio parking of cars. Commissioner Forbes stated our code states you cannot park across the front of houses on any surface. Mayor Casey stated then we need to start enforcing this as it is happening all over town now.
Misc. Business: None
Moved by Alderman Reynolds, Seconded by Alderman Beyer to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm
http://www.cityofhometown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09212021-278
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