Aldermen approve new mural ordinance

The city of Philadelphia has approved an ordinance regulating murals. 

According to one alderman, the ordinance, approved last Tuesday, promotes creativity.

Anyone seeking to paint a new mural must fill out an application at City Hall. The new ordinance takes effect in about 30 days. 

Murals have been painted downtown recently in connection with the Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music.

The city building official will review new applications and make a recommendation to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

The mural application must include a full-color rendering or sketch of the proposed mural and a biography of the artist(s), among other things.

Violating the ordinance can result in a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months.

“I feel an ordinance for murals will benefit not only the city but business owners who want to express their artistic vision and creativity,” said Ward 1 Alderman Justin Clearman. “This is not being discussed to hinder creativity. It’s being done to promote new ideas and give people the chance to express themselves.”

In other business, aldermen voted to:

• Approve a motion to pay a Hi-Lite Airfield Services LLC invoice totaling $79,523 on the airport seal coat project as approved by Allen Engineering. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to place speed bumps on A Avenue and approve a motion to place speed bumps on the back side of Robinhood Circle. The motions were approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to place a 3-way stop and a 4-way stop on Road 375 in front of Williams Brothers. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve a C Spire road bore at Pecan Avenue and Kosciusko Road. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion for C Spire fiber-to-home road bores along the following streets: A Avenue, Adams Street, Atkins Street, Barrier Avenue, Bell Avenue, Bennet Street, Border Street, Cora Street, Carver Avenue, Chestnut Street, Davis Street, Everett Avenue, Elm Street, Gum Street., Hays Street, Homer Avenue, Johnson Avenue, Kelly Street, West Myrtle Street. McKay Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, North Lewis Avenue, Northwest Street, Railroad Avenue, Rea Street, South Lewis Avenue, and West Atkins Street The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to terminate two employees with the Cemetery Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to accept the resignation of Fernellia Denson, effective May 29, from the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to accept the resignation of Colten Lewis, effective June 6, from the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to promote Daylen Edwards to Patrolman 2nd Class with the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to promote Danny Carter to Lieutenant with the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to promote Joshua Odom to Sergeant at $19.01 per hour with the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve street closure between Carver Avenue and A Avenue on June 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to approve the lowest and best bid from Tucker for $1,500, with the second bid being Blue Collar Stump Grinding for $2,000 on the clean-up around the old Police Department building. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to promote Parker McWhirter to Driver/EMT/Paramedic with the Fire Department at $15.63 per hour. The motion was approved unanimously.