By Kathy Chaffin

Salisbury Post

CLEVELAND — Officials here have adopted an ordinance establishing no-parking zones within the town limits.

Police Chief David Allen told the Cleveland Board of Commissioners Monday night that signs will have to be erected before the ordinance can be enforced. “We can’t enforce it without signs,” he said.

The ordinance prohibits parking: in front of or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; on a sidewalk; on a street in front of a public or private driveway; within an intersection; on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street; and on West Main Street between Church and School streets.

Anyone who parks in front of or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant will be fined $25, according to the ordinance, while all other violations will result in a $10 fine.

Allen said the violations will not be criminal citations. “They will be parking tickets and paid at Town Hall,” he said.

Mayor Jim Brown recommended that copies of the ordinance be sent out with the town’s next newsletter and that warning tickets be issued for the first 30 days.

The ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board voted to accept an $18,000 bid by Shelton Concrete of Salisbury to repair sidewalks on Maple Street and East Main and for a new sidewalk in front of Town Hall. The work will include replacing the sidewalk on East Main from Academy to Mimosa streets that was dug up when new water lines were installed.

Though it was not included in the estimate, Brown said the work should include grading the sidewalks down to street level and the embedding of domes in the sidewalks for the visually impaired. Both are requirements of the American Disabilities Act.

In other business, Commissioner John Steele read a letter from the Rev. Donnie Kent of Third Creek AME Zion Church thanking the board for designating Dec. 17 as the Rev. Donnie Kent Day in recognition and honor of his 10th-year anniversary at the church.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin @salisburypost.com.