Portage council tackles variety of complaints

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July 7, 2009

By KATHY MELLOTT The Tribune-Democrat Tue Jul 07, 2009, 11:04 PM EDT

PORTAGE — It’s summertime, and the living is easy.

But not for Portage Borough Council members, who are dealing with issues of merchandise on a sidewalk, a partially demolished mobile home, a family moving back into a burned home and complaints about loud teen dances.

Hoping not to discourage local startup businesses, council will allow the owner of Friend’s Variety Mart to continue to display merchandise on the sidewalk outside. But it is drawing the line at blocking passage.

The store opened on Main Street about a month ago, and in recent days an increased amount of goods showed up on the sidewalk and around parking meters in front of the store.

Borough officials are looking into ordinances that may prohibit sidewalk merchandise displays outside except for special events.

The question is whether current conditions make the walkway inaccessible for the handicapped, Borough Manager Bob Koban said.

Council will allow the merchandise for now, but only if the display is reined in a bit, board President Sharon McCarthy said.

“If he keeps it against the building, it’s OK, until we do more research,” she said.

Council also is in a holding pattern regarding a single-wide mobile home on Blair Street.

Efforts to have it demolished recently came to a halt over property tax issues and a demolition permit, borough officials said.

The robin’s-egg-blue trailer is difficult to miss, McCarthy said of the former home, which has been sitting around for two months.

Concerns about a house in the

600 block of Orchard Street surfaced this week after word reached council that the occupants were moving back in following a July 2 fire.

Harry Breathard Carbaugh, 66, of Portage, was charged with arson in the blaze. He is scheduled to appear today before District Judge Galen Decort in Portage.

An estimated $60,000 damage was done to the 21/2-story home, displacing five residents. The blaze started in a second-story bedroom.

Ron Cadwallader Jr., superintendent of the Portage water system, said occupants requested that water service be restored following the fire.

“They’re moving back in, but the state police fire marshal said they were allowed on the first floor to clean up, but not the second floor,” Cadwallader told council.

The greatest damage was in a bedroom and the attic.

Council will monitor the situation.

And borough police will keep a closer eye on the Sun Dance, a teen night club at Caldwell Avenue and Bedford Street.

Councilwoman Rebecca Chobany has fielded complaints about noise coming from the club and the patrons.

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