Lawrence Avenue Event Pulled from Council Agenda

At Monday’s Ellwood City borough council agenda meeting, Scott and Caroline Golmic addressed council regarding an event request that was pulled from the agenda. The Golmics, owners of Sweet Caroline’s at 507 Lawrence Ave., leased an empty lot at 509 Lawrence with the intention of hosting events to promote the downtown.

The Golmics paired together with other local businesses to host an event on May 23 for the Ellwood City Amateur Baseball Federation, which attracted hundreds of people downtown. The couple plans on hosting future events on the lot featuring food, music and games to attract people downtown and draw attention to the lot to potential business owners.

Addressing council, Scott Golmic said the primary intention was to promote Ellwood City’s downtown and hopefully fill the empty lot with a new business. However, borough officials told the Golmics that any event would require a $25 permit and require council’s permission. Borough solicitor Ed Leymarie read several borough ordinances involving transitory merchants and events, implying the Golmic’s events were in violation.

However, Scott Golmic questioned why council was now choosing to enforce the ordinances and said the last minute decision to pull the request felt “more like a personal attack than concern over a violation of code.”

Vice President Jim Barry asked Golmic why they didn’t host their events in the community plaza. Golmic replied that personally he would rather attract attention to the empty lot next to his business.

Council member George Celli said council members should meet with the Golmics before Monday’s regular meeting to see if any arrangement could be worked out.

“Whatever we can do to promote Ellwood, we should,” Celli said.

Misc.

• Council will consider hiring a new street department employee as two employees are currently on worker’s compensation. There is also uncertainty regarding whether one of the employees (who has been off work for several years) will ever be able to return to work. Currently, the street department lacks enough workers to keep current on projects. Council member Rob Borough said council should consider all options, including offering overtime and hiring a new employee.
• Council will discuss a stricter dog ordinance following an incident where two pit bulls got loose, causing a family to rush their children and pet inside their house. According to borough solicitor Ed Leymarie, state law requires dogs be kept on a leash, inside a fence (including invisible fences), or under reasonable control of the owner. Leymarie said the pit bulls were clearly not under reasonable control of the owner.
• Brough volunteered for the unpaid position of Public Information Officer, an official that deals with the media and handles public relations during an emergency. Brough’s offer was in response to a request by Fire Chief Rick Myers, following an incident on May 28 where a 17-year old boy drowned in the Connoquenessing Creek.
• There will be an adult dance at the Ewing Park pool on Tuesday, June 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. The dance will feature music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s provided by DJ Franco and costs $5 per person.