T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH ABOVE: Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies, left, gives his report to city council on Wednesday as Safety/Service Director Andy Sutak, right, and Clerk Kay McFarlan listen.

MARTINS FERRY — Residents and visitors to Martins Ferry can no longer park commercial vehicles in residential areas following action by City Council on Wednesday.

After discussing the matter over several weeks, council members approved an ordinance this week banning such vehicles from parking in neighborhoods of the Purple City. Because the legislation was just prepared and submitted by Solicitor Paul Stecker on Tuesday, council first voted to suspend the rule requiring council to wait 72 hours before reading the measure.

Members then voted to suspend the rules requiring three public readings of legislation before officially approving the measure in a unanimous vote. Councilman Ben Neiman was absent, but council voted to excuse him from the meeting.

“No commercial tractor, truck, trailer or commercial automobile weighing more than 9,500 pounds shall be parked, stored or allowed on any lot or parcel of land or on the street in any residential district,” the ordinance states.

“However, the above section shall not apply to such vehicles used for conveying the necessary tools and materials to premises where labor using such tools and materials is to be performed during the actual time of parking of such vehicles, nor to the actual time during which such vehicles are being loaded or unloaded or used to deliver or hoist property or merchandise for completion of delivery as long as such activities referred to in this provision are conducted diligently and without unnecessary delay.”

Any violation of the ordinance will be a minor misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $150.

Council also approved an ordinance to provide more consistent funding to the Recreation Department. The measure will transfer $15,000 from the General Fund to the

Recreation Department to fund its operations for June, July and August.

After August, up to $5,000 per month can be transferred as needed, as determined by the city

Administration, with a review by council every 90 days. This measure is designed to allow the employment of a pool/recreation manager. The city will post the position and seek applications.

In a related matter, Mayor John Davies said the pool at the recreation center is expected to open on Tuesday, so the facility will not be available for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.

Council also again discussed a possible $20,000 loan from the general fund to the Sanitation Department to ensure it will finish the year in the black. According to Safety/Service Director Andy Sutak, the department this year incurred additional expenses due to its packer trucks breaking down. He noted that one old packer will be paid off later this year, which will result in a $3,100 monthly savings for the department.

“This month we did have a little higher costs. That is because of the cleanup,” he added, referring to a community-wide event that allowed residents to clean unwanted from their homes and properties to be hauled away by city crews. “Next month we won’t have that. … And with the possibility of transferring, we should be able to get through this year, maybe have a little balance going into next year.”

In an unrelated matter, Councilman Spencer echemann reported on behalf of the Sewer/Sidewalk Committee that members had determined a collapsing wall at 722 Elm St. is not the city’s property or responsibility.

Tom Probst, a resident of that address, spoke to council on May 7 about a retaining wall on the Vine Street side of his property that has partially collapsed. Probst said the wall failed April 6 and that Mayor John Davies and Service/Safety Director Andy Sutak came to look at the situation April 7, but no action has been taken to repair, replace or remove the wall. Probst said he believed the wall was owned by the city, based on a past survey and on dimensions listed on his property tax records. He is concerned that the soil behind the wall is continuing to shift and erode, and that this will lead to further damage to his lawn and, eventually, to his home.

At the suggestion of Council President Kristine Davis, Echemann said he and the other members of the committee would meet about the matter with Solicitor Paul Stecker on hand to advise them. The committee’s determination was announced Wednesday, but Probst was not present at the meeting.

Finally, council voted to meet only once per month throughout the summer. Meetings are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20 at the recreation center on Fourth Street, which will accommodate Neiman, who has been absent for health reasons, because the rec center is more accessible than the second-floor council chambers at the city building.