Borough says fire department flea market is a business

MATAMORAS n An ongoing flea market feud in Matamoras between “doing the right thing” and “upholding the law” have the local firemen feeling misled and the borough council looking like the neighborhood bully. Borough officials charged the controversial market, run by volunteer firemen in the parking lot of Airport Park for the past two years, violated zoning laws. The market had been deemed a commercial establishment and was operating in a residential zone. Because the fire department charges their market vendors $20 a spot on Saturdays and $15 on Sundays, their practice becomes a profitable, commercial business, which can not be run in the park’s residential area, according to the borough. That profit, which averaged $900 per weekend, went towards the recent purchase of a $650,000 ladder truck, says fire Chief Kevin DeGroat. Through fundraising at the flea market, the firefighters hoped to diminish the burden of taxpayers, who pay $52 each already to the department in taxes, which DeGroat says is “not enough” to pay for their necessities. Though the department had the public’s best interests in mind, the council took a stand when the matter was brought to their attention, via complaints from Matamoras neighbors. The flea market makes little noise, and other volunteers can attest to picking up any garbage left over, said Chief DeGroat in rebuttal. Additionally, the park is a public place, and activities such as a recent softball tournament created more traffic than the 25 vendor market, he said. Still, the zoning law found the firemen’s practice illegal, and they were given a recommendation from the planning commission to halt proceedings until the necessary permits were obtained. When the firemen continued to hold the flea market, zoning officer Robert DiLorenzo issued a “Stop Work Order.” “The department did not comply with that, or fill out any paperwork, even after a suggestion of waiving the permit fees was brought up,” said a council member who asked not to be named. According to DeGroat, the fire department did acknowledge the order, but was told soon after by a council person that the paperwork was being taken care of. Under that impression, he said the flea market continued. Borough officials said numerous admonitions were given to the department, and finally they were advised by Borough Solicitor Bob Bernathy to issue an injunction, which restricted the market from opening until matters were resolved in court. The volunteers said they were abruptly given the injunction, with no prior warnings. Unwillingly, they closed the flea market on June 22. Nevertheless, one day before the ensuing court date, Borough Secretary Nancy Buchanan received a message stating the department was advised by attorney Art Ridley to plead “no contest.” In the Pike County Court of Common Pleas on July 3, the violators agreed to meet with the planning board and fill out the needed papers and file for permits. Though everything is currently on hold by the court, Chief DeGroat doesn’t agree with the degree things were taken to. “This could’ve been taken care of without going to court, we could’ve sat down with the council in a meeting, but they didn’t want to,” he told the Courier. The next planning commission meeting is July 17 in the Borough Building, 10 Avenue I, in Matamoras. At that time, the fate of the market will be further decided, but not before once-friendly citizens continue to point fingers and act the victim under what one firefighter called the “dictatorship of Matamoras.”