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Jermyn Council Imposes Curfew On Minors, Strengthens Fight On Blight

JERMYN — For parents of young teens in Jermyn, when the clock strikes at 11 p.m., your child must be indoors. “The curfew hours would be 11 p.m. to 5 a.m....
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JERMYN -- For parents of young teens in Jermyn, when the clock strikes at 11 p.m., your child must be indoors.

“The curfew hours would be 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” said Frank Kulick, Jermyn borough council president at a meeting Thursday night.

Council approved a curfew on those under 18 that runs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Council and the community are fed up with late night mischief and vandalism which they believe is being caused by juveniles.

Many in the borough, including some teens the curfew affects, agree this is a good idea.

“I think it's good actually because a lot of kids my age are definitely going out and ruining a lot of things. especially, like that's why they put the curfew up at parks and things because they're doing bad things and painting on stop signs,” said 16-year-old Lily Anuszewski.

But this curfew ordinance has some teeth.

If a child is caught outside breaking curfew, both the child and their parents could face fines in the hundreds of dollars and possible jail time.

“A guilty of an offense of the first degree with a fine of 200 dollars and or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days for a third conviction,” said Kulick. “Any parent convicted of violating any condition of this ordinance shall be guilty of a violation.”

Council also approved a new property maintenance code that gives the borough more power to go after negligent home and property owners.

The borough can levy fines against that owner daily until the problem is remedied.

One homeowner told council she was at her wits end dealing with a neighboring home.

“Property that's been falling apart for, I don't know how many years now but speaking of the cats, they have stray cats and feral cats that they feed that live in that gray building, it's just a mess, it just needs to come down,” she said.

Both ordinances went into effect immediately.

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