Kingston Twp. ordinance takes aim at junk cars

New rule replaces a previous one in effort to make it easier to cite violators.

By Rebecca Bria rbria@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

KINGSTON TWP. – The board of supervisors passed an ordinance on Wednesday evening that will make it easier to enforce the removal of junk vehicles in the township.

According to township Chief of Police James Balavage, the ordinance repeals a previous ordinance that was at times misinterpreted.

Balavage said that under the old ordinance, people who were cited for having junk vehicles read into the ordinance that they were able to ask the supervisors for permission to store the vehicles on their property.

“It was defeating the purposes of enforcement,” the chief said.

He said warnings will not be given in enforcing the ordinance. The fine for a first-time offense for the storing of a junk vehicle is $1,000.

Balavage said the large fine is meant to clean up the township. Residents who wish to report nuisance vehicles may do so by calling township police at 696-1175.

Approval was granted by the supervisors for a water improvement project by Aqua Pennsylvania in a section of Midway Manor.

Aqua Pennsylvania will install approximately 4,000 feet of water mains on Woodbine Road, parts of Greenpond Road and Shadetree Road. An undetermined amount of new fire hydrants will also be installed. Aqua Pennsylvania will also resurface the roads to township specifications when they are finished with the work.

The supervisors also approved having the township manager draft an ordinance that would prohibit smoking at Center Street Park in accordance with the Young Lungs at Play Program through Luzerne County’s Tobacco Free Coalition.

Supervisors David Brodhead, James Reino and Paul Sabol voted in favor of the ordinance, while Jeffrey Box and John Solinsky voted against it.

A plaque was presented to Frances Gavigan and Donny Gavigan in memory of their husband and father, Ambrose Gavigan, by the supervisors. Ambrose Gavigan served on the township board of supervisors for 13 years from January 1976 to February 1989. He also served on the Kingston Township Home Rule Charter Study Commission during the early 1970s.

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