Council approves amendment to Chapter 59 after fire advisory board revisions

Lock Haven City Council on Dec. 18 considered an amended Chapter 59, the city's fire department ordinance, following recommendations from the fire advisory board and public comments. Bill Bailey, chair of the fire advisory board, said the advisory board met Dec. 14 and that "the board agreed on...several of the changes" to the proposed ordinance and approved the revised version by majority.

Lou Summers, who said he is a HOPE post member and sits on the fire advisory board, described working with council members and the advisory board to incorporate citizen-suggested revisions and coordinate requested changes to geographic coordinates in the ordinance.

During council consideration, one council member proposed adding an explicit reference to "city-owned apparatus buildings" in Article 2, Section C. The amendment was moved and seconded. Council then held a roll-call vote; the amendment passed with recorded yes votes from multiple council members and a single recorded no from Council member Morris.

City staff said the amended ordinance had been recommended by the fire advisory board and would take effect Jan. 1 (or as near thereafter as 20 days from the meeting).

Next steps: staff will finalize the ordinance language, publish the effective date and complete required administrative filings.