Part 7
Snow and Ice Emergencies

§15-701 Snow and Weather Emergency Plans.

The Borough Manager shall prepare snow and weather emergency plans for use within the Borough and inform the public of the details of such plans. Such plans may include, but shall not be limited to, provisions for warning motorists and pedestrians, prohibiting parking on designated streets, requiring chains or snow tires on vehicles operating on designated streets, removing and storing vehicles that are stalled, stuck, parked or abandoned on designated streets, early dismissal of Borough employees or excusing Borough employees under the Manager’s jurisdiction from reporting for duty, posting guidance and warning signs and markings on designated streets and removal of snow, sleet, hail and ice.

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))

§15-702 Snow Emergency Routes.

The following Borough streets are designated as snow emergency routes and shall be posted as such:

Street

Between

Broad Street

Between University Avenue and the north borough line

Chestnut Street

Between High Street and Water Street

Front Street

Entire length

High Street (north and south sections)

Entire length

Independence Street

Between Orange Street and Charles Avenue

Market Street

Between the north and south Borough lines

Mill Street

Between Broad Street and Market Street

Orange Street

Entire length

Penn Street

Entire length

Pine Street

Between Front Street and the west Borough line

Sandhill Road

Between Market Street and the west Borough line

Sassafras Street

Between Market Street and the west Borough line

Snyder Street

Between Orange Street and Broad Street

Spruce Street

Between Susquehanna Avenue and Market Street

University Avenue

Between Market Street and Pine Street

Walnut Street

Between Market Street and Water Street

Water Street

Entire length

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))

§15-703 Snow Emergency Plans.

1.    Snow Emergency Plan No. 1: Impeding Traffic. Whenever the Borough Manager or his designated representative is of the opinion that snow, sleet, hail or freezing rain is causing slippery or hazardous conditions which may lead to serious traffic congestion on Borough streets, he may declare and invoke a snow traffic emergency to be known as “Snow Emergency Plan No. 1,” until such emergency shall have been declared terminated as provided in subsection .1 above. It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct or impede traffic on any street designated as a snow emergency route by reason of his failure to have the vehicle operated by him equipped with snow tires or chains. The announcement of Snow Emergency Plan No. 1 shall be made in the press, if possible, but in any event through not less than two radio stations with a normal operating range in the Borough. Snow Emergency Plan No. 1, shall become effective upon announcement.

2.    Snow Emergency Plan No. 2: Parking.

A.    Whenever there is a firm forecast of snow, sleet, hail or freezing rain from the weather bureau, or whenever snow, sleet, hail or ice or a combination thereof reaches an accumulation of 3 inches or more on one or more of the streets that the Borough designated as snow emergency routes in §15-702, the Borough Manager or his duly authorized representative may declare and invoke a snow parking emergency to be known as “Snow Emergency Plan No. 2.” The Borough Manager or his representative shall make an announcement thereof through the press, if possible, but in any event through not less than two radio stations with a normal operating range covering the Borough. Snow Emergency Plan No. 2 shall become effective at the following times if the above-required announcement is made:

Announcements Made

Effective Time

Between 7 a.m. and 12 midnight

2 hours after announcement

Between 12 midnight and 7 a.m.

9 a.m.

B.    On any street or portion thereof designated as a snow emergency route and marked by red and white signs which conform to state Highway Department specifications and posted alternately two (2) to the block, no person shall, while Snow Emergency Plan No. 2 is in effect, park or permit any vehicle to remain parked on any such street. The parking prohibition shall remain in effect until Snow Emergency Plan No. 2 has been terminated by the Mayor or Borough Manager or their designated representatives.

[Ord. 825]

§15-704 Removal of Stalled, Stuck, Parked or Abandoned Vehicles.

Whenever any vehicle shall be found stalled, stuck, parked or abandoned on any Borough street designated and posted as a snow emergency route in such a manner as to obstruct or impede traffic or hinder snow removal or cindering operations when either snow emergency plan is in effect, the vehicle may be removed, at the owner’s expense, to an area designated by the Borough Manager. Such vehicle may be removed only by persons authorized by the Borough Manager. Such persons, so designated, shall notify the Chief of Police immediately following such removal. Such authorized persons shall give the type of vehicle, the license tag number, the place of removal, the time of removal, the cause of removal, the place to which the vehicle was removed and such other information as required. The Chief of Police shall attempt to notify the owner of such vehicle, as soon as it is reasonably possible, of the removal and location of the vehicle.

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))

§15-705 Exceptions.

Certain vehicles are excepted from the provisions of this Chapter as follows:

A.    Commercial vehicles making emergency deliveries of fuel and motor oils, coal, gasoline, goods, milk and medicines.

B.    Emergency vehicles of public service corporations.

C.    Ambulances and vehicles carrying sick or injured persons.

D.    Vehicles engaged in snow plowing or removal or cindering operations on Borough streets.

E.    Tow trucks.

F.    Physicians responding to sick calls.

G.    Vehicles carrying United States mail.

H.    Police vehicles.

I.    Fire vehicles.

J.    Government emergency vehicles.

K.    Municipal vehicles declared essential by the Borough Manager.

L.    Hearses and motor vehicles in funeral processions.

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))

§15-706 General Regulations.

1.    Whenever either snow emergency plan is in effect, the normal prohibitions against parking in alleys shall, temporarily, be held in abeyance. However, whenever a designated snow emergency route has been cleared by snowplowing, removal or cindering operations, vehicles so parked in nearby alleys shall be removed therefrom and placed back on the streets.

2.    During either snow emergency plan it shall be unlawful for any person, when shoveling sidewalks, to deposit waste snow on the streets of the Borough after they have been plowed.

3.    Whenever the plowing of at least two lanes on any Borough street has been accomplished, residents on said streets may be required to move their vehicles into those lanes in order to permit Borough forces to plow and/or open the curb lanes of such streets.

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))

§15-707 Penalty for Violation.

1.    If, at any time during a period of snow emergency declared under §15-701 of this Part, a person shall park a motor vehicle or allow a motor vehicle to remain parked anywhere upon a snow emergency route, that person shall be guilty of a violation of this Part and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $50 and costs.

2.    If, at any time during a period of snow emergency declared under §15-701 of this Part, a person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a snow emergency route, without having that vehicle equipped with snow tires or chains, that person shall be guilty of a violation of this Part, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and costs.

(Ord. 825, 10/3/2016, §§4(A), 5(A))