Spring City Talks Animal Rules, Main Street Cleanup

Spring City Borough Council once again discussed an ordinance during Monday's meeting that will regulate the number and types of animals that can be kept in homes and on properties in the borough.

Council talked about the ordinance at . Spring City resident Margaret Hughes has been before council on a few occasions to outline issues she has with a neighbor who has animals.

Councilman Gene Sweeney expressed concerns that limiting "all animals", without specifying which animals, would make it illegal to own multiple "goldfish or guppies or hamsters."

"I have a problem with it being all pets," Sweeney said.

Several other council members agreed.

that he feels residents should be allowed to keep chickens if they are raising them for food.

Council agreed to have the Finance and Ordinance committee discuss the ordinance at its next meeting, with the topic of number and types of animals as the focus of the discussion.

"It's a shame we have to legislate good neighboring," Council president Louis DiGuiseppe said.

Council also briefly talked about issues with upkeep on Main Street.

Paul Touhey, husband of owner Megan Touhey, asked council during public comment if anything could be done about the buildings next to him.

"It looks like the windows have been blown out," Touhey said.

DiGuiseppe told Touhey that the matter was an ongoing problem for Code Enforcement, but that it was being worked on.

DiGuiseppe went on to say that he is disappointed with the upkeep problems on Main Street.

"The people of Spring City have paid a fair amouint of money to repair Main Street," DiGuiseppe said. "I don't think it's too much for people who got a few thousand dollars in new sidewalks to go out and pull a few weeds."

Hays said he had noticed the problem, too, and would like to officially discuss the issues at a future council meeting.

Council made the following announcements at the end of the brief meeting:

• The police department has hired Bryan Kane as a new full-time officer.
• National Night Out is tomorrow, August 7, at Brown Street Park.
• The next council meeting will be the first Tuesday in September, September 4, due to the Labor Day holiday.