Media gears up for ‘Dining Under the Stars’

MEDIA >> For borough council, it happens every spring, like robins and baseball’s opening day: The board debates the specifics of the highly successful “Dining Under the Stars.”

While approval was given for the al fresco restaurant event that takes place each Wednesday night, May through September, there was ample discussions with ongoing issues. Councilman Peter Williamson, chair of the Public Safety Committee, led the conversation, asking for a review of an extensive mass gathering application.

Media Business Authority Board President Bryan Messick and Executive Director Zubair Khan began with parking on State Street which is cleared to enable participating restaurants to bring seating onto the roadway. The specific matter was timing, ticketing and towing. Khan said posting information on meters the previous night, seeking out vehicle owners, and concessions to moving cars to the municipal lot “have been pretty successful.” In effect, only two cars needed to be towed last year.

Council would like the MBA to acquire its own insurance coverage, rather than be under the borough’s policy umbrella. Messick and Khan talked about that cost cutting into operating expenses and potential profit used for other MBA projects. Council requested the insurance issue to be settled prior to the 2018 season.

The borough is also concerned about the police coverage needed for the event; volunteers the MBA has for general operations; ensuring safe north/south traffic on perpendicular streets; boundaries restaurants must observe in occupying State Street; and local ordinances on alcohol being contained within necessary boundaries. With regard to the latter, Khan said it was up to police to enforce regulation when necessary. That generally takes place with a gentle reminder.

Going into its 10th year, Dining Under the Stars has become, by far, the borough’s foremost event, drawing thousands of diners each Wednesday night for five months. As it continues to grow, council, first responders and the business community have concerns which require oversight and tweaking of operations. One such modification is mandatory application to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for needed approval to move alcohol sales out of the restaurants proper. Council authorized the code enforcement director to send a letter combining that request for all eligible license holders.

The overall action of council approved the mass gathering permit conditioned upon the items discussed.