Weissport Council is a step closer to adopting an ordinance and permit application that will govern the use of borough parks by private individuals and organizations.

Council on Monday night looked over an ordinance adopted in 1979 and amended in 1986 that presently governs the parks.The new ordinance and application will give council added control of clean up after events, alcohol use, hours of operations. fees for administrating the application and insuring that groups are covered by insurance.Council also discussed the cost of electricity by groups who use the park.Attorney Michael Greek said that council should set the security deposit high enough that people will want to clean up after themselves so they get their deposit returned. He also noted that council could keep part of the security deposit to pay for the cost of electric and refund the rest if the park is cleaned up following events.Attorney Greek also noted that council can regulate smoking in the playground area without affecting other parks.Council member Arland Moyer said that a recent clean up at the playground filled a wheel barrow with cigarette butts."They are throwing the butts into the rubber mulch," said Moyer.Council also voted to hire the engineering firm Spotts, Stevens and McCoy to compile the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), required annually by the state. The MS4 reports detail permit activities for the previous calendar year.Council also discussed a deteriorating property that needs to be addressed.Councilman Tim Rehrig said that a roof has partially collapsed on a garage on Allen Street.Attorney Greek said that a letter needs to be sent to the property owner to give the owner 30 days to clean up the area.Rehrig also noted that the borough worker needs to get the town in better shape. He said that the run, an open drainage ditch, must be cleaned of debris, plus the garbage cans in the park were not emptied for two weeks."If our worker needs help, then lets get him help," said Rehrig. "This stuff needs to be taken care of."