New Phila DORA proposal advances
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 20, 2024) – The city is closer to having a designated outdoor refreshment area.
After meeting as a committee to hear from the public, council directed Law Director Marvin Fete to prepare legislation authorizing the application for members to consider during a future session. The only no vote came from Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos, whose suggestions included appointing someone from the recovery community to the DORA oversight board.
“I would like to see time set aside for people who don’t want to be around alcohol to enjoy an event also.”
Mayor Joel Day has proposed an events-only outdoor drinking designation for a few blocks downtown between Second Street and First Drive.
“Everything from trash collection to police protection, it’s really going to be no different in my mind than Art in the Alley. The costs go to the organizers.”
Revive Church Pastor Tom Cunningham is concerned about littering and other potential problems.
“There’s gonna be public urination. There’s gonna be fighting. There’s gonna be trash. There’s gonna be a number of things. There’s houses involved in there. I don’t know if all the residents are understanding of what their porch view might be like.”
The consultant who prepared the city’s application told council she wasn’t aware of any DORA-related issues in other communities she has helped through the process.
“I truly have not. I really haven’t. I wish I could give one example but I can’t. Everyone is always very considerate. Folks aren’t doing this to get drunk. If they want to get drunk, they’ll just go inside, sit at the bar and get drunk.”
The resolution Fete is preparing is on the agenda for Monday’s city council meeting. There will be two more readings after that unless members suspend the usual rules and approve it on an emergency basis.