Jim Thorpe Borough Council authorized its solicitor Thursday night to draft an ordinance amendment reflecting several proposed changes to parking regulations in several areas of town.

Police Chief Joe Schatz proposed banning parking on both sides of the 200- and 300-blocks of Church Alley. The 100-block of Church Alley is already posted as a no-parking zone.

“I took a look,” Schatz said. “There is only one or two vehicles that do park in the two- and 300-blocks,” Schatz said. “I know when we were running pieces of apparatus last year up and down those areas, they were tight.”

Council President Greg Strubinger said most residents in the 200-block have off-street parking, so the change would not create a significant hardship.

“That’s the first thing I looked at — making sure we’re not taking 15 cars, 20 cars off the street,” Schatz said.

A section of Liberties Hill was also identified as a potential permanent no-parking zone. Currently, the town prohibits parking there during fall weekends. Schatz said the seasonal restrictions have been in place for years.

“It’s a curved stretch where nobody really parks anyway and if we post it permanently then we don’t have to keep putting signs up every year,” Schatz said.

Concerns about emergency vehicle access were raised regarding Chestnut Avenue. The town’s current ordinance prohibits parking on one side of the street, but temporary signs have recently been posted to address congestion issues.

“Right now we have it posted temporarily but I would make the suggestion to make the other side permanent with no parking as well,” Schatz said. The restriction would be in place on Chestnut from Center Avenue to School Alley.

“God forbid, if a piece of fire apparatus needs to get in there or if an ambulance is needed … if there’s cars parked, you’re not going to get through,” Schatz said.

Another problematic spot discussed was near 138 High St., where a single parked car can frequently block traffic flow near the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center.

“It’s a tricky spot as well,” Schatz added. “I know we have trouble getting the plow through there.”

A judge’s parking spot near the Carbon County courthouse, Schatz said, will be converted to a public parking space.

“We have spoken a few times about making that open for parking time wise after 4:30 p.m., but we confirmed the judge isn’t going to use it anymore so it will be back to a public space,” he said.