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Council examines removing three streets from Williamsport brick‑street preservation list
Summary
City administration proposed removing three brick‑paved street segments from the preservation ordinance because heavy truck, school bus and intersection traffic is damaging the bricks; councilors sought more neighborhood input and deferred detailed action to Thursday.
Mayor Slaughter presented an ordinance amending the city’s brick‑paved streets ordinance to remove three locations from preservation status: a block of First Street adjacent to Chick‑fil‑A (heavy industrial truck traffic), a segment alongside Jackson School on Wayne Avenue (bus traffic and safety concerns), and the Beaver/Oliver/Forest intersection by Memorial Park (high‑traffic deterioration).
Council members discussed competing priorities. Some members emphasized the streets’ historic value and community attachment — one councilor noted some brick streets have stood for roughly 150 years — while others highlighted maintenance costs, winter plow damage and safety issues for schoolchildren. Councilor Pelizzari explained workers and plows can catch loose bricks and that repairs are costly, but said the masonry itself often remains serviceable when properly maintained.
Several council members said they wanted to solicit input from adjacent residents and stakeholders before final action and agreed to continue the item at the full City Council meeting on Thursday.
