I would like to comment on the recent letter by Timothy Beresnyak.
The section of town we live in is not a business district. It is a residential/business district as designated on the borough zoning map. We do live near the Blair County Prison, however, it is not across the street from Beresnyak's home. My home is across the street from his. I have lived here for almost 12 years.
We never had an issue with our children riding their scooters or bikes on the sidewalks before Beresnyak moved to the neighborhood. Had my children not been able to ride on the sidewalks, they never would have learned to ride their bikes.
Beresnyak further stated that the children are unsupervised outside. Just because when he looks out his windows, myself or any other parent or grandparent cannot be seen, does not mean that my children or any child is unsupervised. My children have never jumped his fence to retrieve toys, play with his dog nor have they been in his yard.
The borough official that "misinformed" us regarding whether or not children were permitted to ride scooters on the sidewalk was a Hollidaysburg police officer.
He told us that, yes, it is against code for children to ride their scooters on the sidewalks. However, they are permitted, as police officers, to use their discretion in enforcing that law and based on the ages of the children, all under age 12, he would allow them to continue to ride their scooters on the sidewalks at that time in the interest of the safety of the children.
Trying to get the code changed is not for the benefit of one person, but rather it is for the benefit of all who live in our neighborhood as well as for any other family living in a residential/business district in the borough.
We are not looking for the children to have free rein over the sidewalks on their scooters. We know we live near the jail and the courthouse. What we want is for the children to have the ability to go outside and ride on their scooters if they want but only after regular business hours and on weekends during the day.
The children know enough and have always gotten out of the way of pedestrians.
We just want the children to be able to play without fear of having the police called on them for something as minor as riding their scooters.
Beresnyak has been unreasonable as well regarding this issue. Yes, an argument happened, but Beresnyak left out that he too was arguing, yelling and cursing.
It was not a one-sided argument. At no time has he been threatened, nor have any of us tried or used intimidation to try and get our way.
I would ask that anyone, regardless of their position on this issue attend the next Borough Council meeting and have your voice heard there.
Barb Johnson
Hollidaysburg
