Friday afternoon Derek Slaughter, Mayor of the City of Williamsport issued a Proclamation regarding open containers and guidance on gatherings.
Mayor Slaughter added, “Additionally, we have placed tables in the midtown landing area to assist with local restaurants and others who do not have outdoor seating capacity. There are areas which are privately owned that are exploring placing outdoor seating options as well.”
Open-Container Proclamation 05.29.2020
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, local businesses, and particularly local restaurants and bars, have suffered severe economic setbacks, and it is the opinion of city government that we must take whatever steps are in our power to support our local business community while protecting the health and welfare of all of our citizens.
On May 8, Governor Wolf officially declared Lycoming County to be in the “yellow phase” of pandemic recovery, which continued to restrict bars and restaurants to takeout and delivery only. On May 21, Governor Wolf signed into law SB 327, which allows bars and restaurants to sell takeout mixed drinks to be consumed by the general public off of the establishment’s licensed premises. Subsequent to the passage of SB 327, the Williamsport Business Association and other local businesses and trade organizations reached out to the City to request leniency on open-container restrictions.
At this time, Mayor Derek Slaughter deems it to be in the best interest of the local business community to temporarily suspend open-container restrictions upon streets, sidewalks, alleys, or public ways of the City, or upon the parking areas of private shopping centers under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Police (Article 745.04 and 747.01 of the City’s Ordinances), until restaurants and bars in Lycoming County are once again permitted to serve food and drink within their own licensed premises, or until this suspension is otherwise lifted. This action is being taken to assist, as best the city can, the stimulation of the local economy.
However, Covid-19 remains a public health crisis and it is important that citizens understand that all open-container activity is at the risk of the consumer, and that public restrictions on large gatherings remain in place, per the advice of the CDC and Governor Wolf.
Further, this suspension does not apply to City parks and has no impact on the enforcement of public drunkenness, any state law or regulation, motor vehicle code laws (including but not limited to 75 P.S. 3809 – the restriction against possessing an open container within a motor vehicle), driving under the influence, or other city statutes related to the consumption or excessive consumption of alcohol. We encourage all citizens of Williamsport to consume and interact responsibly and utilize this opportunity to support local businesses in their time of need.
