(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
In front of a full audience, the New Brighton Borough Council ran through the gambit of emotions, from the positive determination of a new business owner seeking approval from the council to the frustration of citizens having to take the law into their own hands.
The Council held two public hearings to begin the October 20 meeting; the first of which regarded a Conditional Use Application to operate an indoor amusement parlor at 310 10th Street in New Brighton by Straw Hat, LLC. The facility would have up to 20 “skill game” machines, would not serve alcohol, and would operate no later than 10:00 PM on evenings according to Adam Pritchard–who was there as the proprietary representative of Straw Hat.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” Pritchard stated. “We’re not trying to come in and leave. We fought this hard for two and a half years. I believe ourselves and PA Skill Games are the only two legal games in the state of Pennsylvania.” Pritchard, who was joined by his legal counsel–Corey Leon of Stoner Law Group–emphasized that he hopes that his business helps generate revenue for the community and that his establishment will provide legal entertainment with firm ground rules regarding the distribution of winnings by those who use the games at the new facility.
The council unanimously approved Straw Hat LLC’s Conditional Use Application, as well as Ordinance 1267, which would establish a Joint Regional Planning Commission between New Brighton Borough, Fallston Borough, Daugherty Township, and Pulaski Township. The individual planning commissions in each municipality would be dissolved once the ordinance is adopted by all involved.
A unanimous dis-approval (of one) was brought on by borough citizen Dennis DeSimone, who heavily criticized the council for their lackluster response to the usage of portable basketball hoops being placed in the street for public usage. DeSimone claimed that the indecency presented by the youth–“pre-teens”, as described by DeSimone–was so much that he had to take matters into his own hands by asking the parents of the portable hoop to take it down.
“We came down here to ask for our inalienable right to peace and happiness, and all you’ve done is talk about it,” scoffed DeSimone. Council President Robert Hartwick and New Brighton Mayor Tom Albanese inferred that Mr. DeSimone contact Police Chief Ron Walton in order to quell any further disputes.
The Council approved PennDOT to begin developing 88 curb ramps along Route 65 from 5th Avenue to the Daugherty Township Line, and they approved road closures on 3rd Street for the Fire & Ice festival on December 10 and the Veteran’s Day Parade on November 11. The Council also approved a $1,000 donation to the American Legion Post 19 in conjunction with the Veteran’s Day Parade.