Lewistown Borough Council's committee reviewed several proposed ordinance updates, including adding minimum fines to borough code sections, changing sidewalk drain requirements to allow trough drains, and revising water-connection language to reflect that a municipal authority — not the borough — performs connections.

Staff presented a consolidated draft that adds minimums where ordinances previously only listed maximum fines; the intent is to give the magistrate consistent parameters. Staff said most existing ordinances already included maximums but lacked consistent minimums, and that the minimums were chosen proportionally to the maximums (for example, a $1,000 maximum might carry a $300 minimum). Staff noted enforcement responsibility varies across provisions: police department enforces some items (disorderly conduct, parks after-hours, tampering), codes enforces zoning and licensing, and the fire chief enforces fire prevention code.

On sidewalk drains, staff said the ordinance language previously required an underground drain pipe; contractors have been installing surface trough drains and the draft ordinance would explicitly allow trough drains to avoid sidewalk cracking and to give staff a code basis when instructing contractors.

The committee also discussed an older ordinance that still names the borough as the entity making water service connections. Staff said connections are now handled by a municipal authority and the ordinance needs language changes so it does not incorrectly assign connection authority to the borough.

Council members raised other enforcement concerns: parking on sidewalks and grass, sidewalk encroachment and enforcement timelines for property repairs. Staff offered to draft specific language and examples from neighboring municipalities. Committee members agreed to defer advertisement and formal vote until the next law-and-ordinance meeting so councilors could review the consolidated edits and the blue-highlighted draft.

No formal ordinance amendments were adopted at the meeting; staff will circulate the edited document and bring the ordinances back for review and possible advertisement at the first meeting in May.