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Chester worries about sale liability

CHESTER — A motion to allow for a fence to be built on city property — one to be maintained by a resident — was put on the back burner as the city’s solicitor raised possible liability issues.

Discussion among council members took place Oct. 16 in regard to whether the city can allow local resident Bob Reed to construct a fence at the Collins Memorial, under the condition he maintain mowing of the bank.

Councilman Steve Shuman, who was absent from the meeting, first brought a motion to the floor during the Oct. 2 meeting, but it was tabled to allow City Solicitor April Raines to research information if the move could legally take place.

At the start of the public session Oct. 16, council tabled the motion a second time as Raines was not in attendance at that point. Raines appeared a short time later, and provided her findings to council.

In relation to selling properties, Raines said if the city sells property to anyone other than a government entity, the sale must be advertised and put up for auction.

“We’re talking about pieces of property that have deeds that can be sold,” she explained.

In regard to the fence, Raines recommended the city not allow the fence to be erected as she cited liability issues that may come up along the way.

“My generic recommendation to the city, as always as it has come up in the past before, is that we don’t allow anyone to erect anything on our property,” Raines said. “That’s just a plain old liability issue. It’s just common sense.”

Raines encouraged council that if it wishes to sell properties, they do so by advertising all at once. As for maintaining the fence and property, Raines said there wouldn’t be a problem if the maintenance was on Reed’s own property, but she still discouraged anything being built on city property.

With the matter tabled, council members said the the motion perhaps could be acted upon at a future meeting.

Meanwhile, council also tabled a motion to find an electric company to handle the replacement of lights in the gymnasium of Chester City Hall. The plan is to switch to LED lighting.

A total of eight quotes were received from two different companies. One quote, from Sayre Electric, offered materials and labor at a cost of $3,425. The other seven quotes came from Werkheiser’s, varying from $2,854 to $6,834 for various amounts of work on the lights.

(Rappach can be contacted at srappach@reviewonline.com)

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