DUBOIS – John Emerick concluded his service as the chief of the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department at Monday night’s DuBois City Council meeting.
Emerick served as a department chief for six years. He will be succeeded by Bill Boyle, who became the second assistant chief in 2011 and first assistant chief in 2013.
Ben Blakley is the new first assistant chief. Joe Mitchell is the second assistant chief.
In other business, council approved for several parking spots along East Scribner Avenue near the Reitz Theater to be removed. All council members voted in favor except for Councilwoman Diane Bernardo.
“When you stop to look at it, it really is only four spots,” said City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio.
Council noted that the immediate concern and reason for the abolishment of the spots is due to tight space for snow plows.
Bernardo asked if it was possible to forbid parking in these spots during the winter. “Can we do something seasonally? The big problem is the snow,” said Bernardo.
Police Chief Ron A. LaRotonda added that even in the warmer months, police vehicles have trouble on the roadway when there are cars parked on both sides. Other emergency vehicles would have similar issues if they needed to go up the roadway, he said.
“It is totally your call,” said Suplizio.
Councilman Edward Walsh expressed a desire to make the entire street one-sided parking. Admitting it would be an unpopular decision, he still made this an initial motion.
According to Suplizio, the affected citizens were not notified yet, but it appeared they should have enough parking. One of the spots is a handicapped parking spot for the Reitz Theater, which will be moved across the roadway, he said.
Resident Darlene Marshall thanked the council for its support in fighting disposal injection wells in the region. She attended Monday night’s meeting with an update regarding the proposed Highland Street Extension disposal injection well.
“The [Environmental Protection Agency] EPA has responded and asked everyone who appealed if they can have a two-week extension,” said Marshall. The EPA is expected to announce its decision on Feb. 6.
All members of the council were present for the meeting.
