Curfews, nuisances new law subjects

The new township curfew replaces one that dated back to 1958.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- Mahoning Township took a step toward more peaceful nights when supervisors adopted ordinances establishing a youth curfew and banning disorderly houses.
The new laws were in response to residents' complaints about rowdy youths and roaming All-Terrain Vehicles during the night.
Supervisors Gary Pezzuolo, Poncho Exposito and Vito Yeropoli unanimously passed the ordinances Tuesday.
Township Solicitor Thom Leslie explained that the new curfew ordinance replaces an outdated one from 1958.
The new law prohibits youths under 18 from being out between midnight and 5 a.m. unless they are with a parent, guardian or other authorized person.
Exceptions are provided for employment, emergency errands and other legitimate activities. Both parents and children can be fined $100 for a first offense and $300 for second and subsequent offenses.
The nuisance house ordinance provides a $300 fine and up to 90 days in jail for anyone keeping or frequenting a "nuisance house," defined as a place where drunkenness, illegal alcohol consumption, boisterous conduct and fighting take place.
The ordinances take effect in five days.
Waterline contractor
Also, Pezzuolo announced the township has hired Rudzik Construction of Struthers for Edinburg Phase II waterline construction. Rudzik was the low bidder of eight, offering to do the job for $440,000. Bids ranged up to $700,000.
In other business, Police Chief Jim Morris reported the Northwest Regional Police Department, a joint effort of Mahoning and Pulaski Townships, celebrated one year of operation Oct. 1. He said each township is averaging 225 to 300 incidents per month.
Supervisors changed their November meeting to 7 p.m. Nov. 9 to avoid conflicting with the general election Nov. 8.
They hired RAR Engineering, New Castle, to start engineering the new Edinburg sewage line. Funding is not yet in place for that project. They also agreed to borrow money from a county bond issue to pay a $50,000 bill for a study that determined Edinburg needs sewers. Half the study money will be reimbursed later by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Supervisors accepted a citizen petition asking that Quaker Heights Road be ordained a township road and the name stay the same. Supervisors will ask the township engineer to inspect the road, and if it meets township standards, they plan to accept it at the November meeting.
Benefit dinner
Exposito, who is also township fire chief, reported that an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner to benefit the fire department is set for noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at the township community center. Tickets are $6 and are available in advance or at the door.
They named Brian King of Hillsville Road to the Mahoning Township Planning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Don Fox.
Exposito reported that 58 truckloads of trash were hauled during the recent township cleanup. In response to a resident's question, he said costs of the cleanup when wages, equipment and fuel are taken into account is about $14,000.