BY STACI WILSON

A narrow street in Montrose is being changed on a trial basis to allow only one-way traffic.

As soon as signs are posted, Cedar Street – between Cherry and Chestnut – will allow for a vehicle entrance on the Cherry Street side.

Montrose Borough Council began discussing the street several months ago. Tractor trailers using the narrow passage and turning onto Cherry have repeatedly struck a house on the corner of Cedar and Cherry, reported Councilman Tony Pickett at the Monday, Oct. 5 meeting.

He also said that large pickup trucks hauling trailers have also struck the home.

Pickett said that at the intersection the street is about 18-1/2 feet wide. He also noted that a stop sign is hidden.

Council settled on trying the stretch of street as a one-way after discussing several other options, including not allowing for left turns onto Cherry from Cedar and/or installing large metal posts.

Council president Tom LaMont said most truck drivers rely on a GPS to get them around areas. “The more traffic restrictions that are not on the GPS, the more problems,” he said.

In order to make the change to a one-way permanent, council would have to adopt an ordinance following the trial period.

Councilman Craig Reimel advocated for tougher enforcement of the borough’s ban on burning.

Reimel said the Montrose borough code prohibits the intentional burning of garbage. Up until now, burning of paper has not been enforced by police or the codes officer. But paper can also release what council called “noxious fumes” if left smoldering in a burn barrel, Reimel said.

Council members also noted that people have also been burning plastics.

Moving forward, council was in agreement that paper will not be an exception. Anyone caught burning garbage in the borough could face fine. Police were instructed to file an activity report on burning complaints received and follow-up with the codes officer.

Montrose is taking steps to vacate a lane in the borough that runs from Wilson Street to Drinker Streets on the map.

Resident John Blachek said he believed the borough had vacated the lane in the 1970s, and adjoining landowners were given about 8-feet of land. He has mowed and maintained the track for the past 40 years, he told council.

But no record of the borough vacating the road was ever filed.

Borough solicitor Marion O’Malley said the borough would need to petition the court to vacate the road and notify adjacent landowners.

But, she said, the borough would have no authority to grant the land back to the adjoining properties.

Council directed the solicitor to take the necessary steps to vacate the lane.

LaMont said there are about seven or eight lanes in the borough that exist on the maps.

Annual budget contributions were approved for the library and United Fire Company.

Montrose Borough Council will meet, Monday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. at the borough building on Cherry St.