In response to resident complaints about commercial vehicles and trailers parked on village streets, Liverpool’s Board of Trustees plan to amend the village code to allow police to ticket such vehicles. The board conducted a public hearing on Nov. 17 to consider the code change.
The proposed Local Law D-2014 states that “no commercial vehicle shall be parked on or along any highway or upon any public property in the village of Liverpool.” The local law also prohibits the parking of trailers, campers, recreational vehicles, snowmobiles and boats.
The law defines a commercial vehicle as “any vehicle deigned for purposes other than passenger transportation or for transportation of more than 10 passengers … [including] buses, delivery trucks, tractor-trailers … refrigerated trucks, step vans, repair and tow trucks, dump trucks.”
Liverpool Mayor Gary White said that, in essence, the board was legislating common courtesy.
“With this law we’re encouraging residents to become more considerate of their neighbors,” White said.
Three village residents, including former Mayor Marlene Ward, spoke in favor of the new law.
On Nov. 19, the village received approval of the law from the Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency. Trustees have called a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at which they’ll vote on proposed Local Law D-2014 which amends chapters 368 and 380 of the village code.
“It may not be perfect, but at least now this law has some teeth,” White said.
If commercial vehicles are found violating the law, police will initially issue a verbal warning, followed by a written warning, followed by a citation, the mayor said. Codes Enforcement Officer Bill Reagan pointed out that the law also prohibits the parking of commercial vehicles in driveways.
107 Lake Drive
At their Dec. 1 meeting, the trustees will also consider a problem posed by a deteriorating house at 107 Lake Drive owned by longtime Liverpool resident Estelle Linehan. The 104-year-old house was inspected on Oct. 31 by village Codes Enforcement Officer Bill Reagan, who found holes in the roof, broken rafters and rotting roof-sheeting, water leaking indoors and a chimney in “imminent danger” of collapsing.
“The village needs to look after the homeowner’s safety and her neighbors’ safety,” Reagan said. Linehan, 81, has lived at 107 Lake Drive for the past 26 years with her son, 39-year-old Geoffrey Linehan.
“The living conditions are deplorable,” Reagan said. “Either the house needs to be repaired immediately or it should be torn down.”
Fourteen accidents
At the Nov. 17 village board meeting, Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris informed trustees that officers made 202 traffic stops and issued 144 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws during October. In addition, 14 traffic accidents were investigated and one arrest was made for driving while intoxicated.
Officers made 235 residential property checks during the month while answering a total of 384 complaints and calls for service.
The LPD arrested 23 persons in October on a total of 29 criminal charges.
