It's too late for this winter, but Jim Thorpe Borough Council plans to start working on its snow ordinance well before flakes start to fly at the end of 2015.

Council listened to a report Thursday night from Police Chief Joe Schatz, who said the current mandates on residents to move parked cars and allow for street plowing is not panning out.The current system involves one side of the street being cleared of parked cars depending on whether the storm falls on an odd or even day of the month.The opposite side of the street is then plowed the following day.Some residents, however, are simply not complying."We have written over 200 tickets this year for people violating that ordinance," Schatz said."There were 150 in just one storm. We'll go out and ticket all day because it is what we are asked to do, but if you want my personal opinion, the system isn't working. For the people that think we enjoy doing it, we don't."According to council members, the snow ordinance is an annual discussion."We need to look at this in the spring instead of waiting until winter every year," said Councilman John McGuire."This comes up every single year."On Thursday, council voted unanimously to have borough employees start clearing snow in front of St. Joseph Regional Academy.The discussion was sparked by resident Ed McArdle, who complimented the way plowing has been handled in the borough this year, but said a safety issue was cropping up at the school."Someone is going to get hurt down there at that school," McArdle said."In the past, snow used to be plowed and hauled away from all the businesses in town."Mayor Michael Sofranko said in the past, priorities were put on the downtown area, schools and churches, and businesses and intersections.Recently, however, snow was not being removed from the school.In other action Thursday, council:• Approved the greater Hazelton Area YMCA and YWCA to hold the annual Anthracite Triathlon on July 19.• Approved the Earth Day festival to be held April 18.• Voted to advertise for chemicals for the water and sewer plants.• Approved the exoneration request for Alicia Lewis of West 15th Street.• Approved the Civil Service Commission certified eligibility list for a two-year period.