Tarentum council opens policy review for block‑party and street‑closure requests

Tarentum Borough Council discussed formalizing a street‑closure policy after staff and council members reported inconsistent decisions for business and residential requests. No formal policy was adopted; council asked staff to research several options and return with proposed language. Why it matters: Council members said ad‑hoc approvals have created confusion for residents and businesses. The discussion covered whether to limit closures to specific days (for example, Sundays), distinguish commercial events from residential block parties, require permits and deposits, and set limits on times and location to preserve emergency‑vehicle access. Key points from the discussion: Borough Manager Dwight Bodorf and multiple council members noted past practice varied by street and by request. Council discussed a model used by another municipality where residents post a deposit and place barricades themselves during the event to limit municipal overtime costs. Fire and EMS representatives emphasized emergency access: the fire chief told council that large emergency vehicles need reliable, unobstructed access and cautioned that relying on neighbors to clear tents and coolers during an emergency could waste critical time. Members also raised bus‑route and bridge access as constraints for certain streets. Decision and next steps: Council did not adopt a policy at the meeting. Instead, members directed staff to research three options — a ban on closures, a truncated/time‑limited policy for certain streets and times, or a split policy that treats commercial and residential requests differently — and present specific proposals for council and public review.