JOHNSTOWN - The city has officially begun the process to increase the speed limit on a street that no longer has a school open on it.

The Common Council Monday night at City Hall approved a resolution to set a public hearing to increase the speed limit on Jansen Avenue from 15 mph to 30 mph because Jansen Avenue Elementary School was shut down in June.

The hearing will be to amend the city Code of Ordinances, specifically Section 20-307 titled, "Speed in School Districts," related to Jansen Avenue. It will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at City Hall. Changing the speed limit involves a 300-foot zone in either direction from the former elementary school. The 15 mph signs enforced the limit one hour before and after school.

For fiscal reasons - the saving of about $900,000 - the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education voted March 26 to close the Jansen Avenue Elementary School building at the end of the last school year. The district is still looking at future alternative uses, which may still include district use, leasing it to a private or public concern or both.

In other business, the council authorized Mayor Sarah J. Slingerland to sign documents to receive a $750,000 state Community Development Block Grant the city recently was awarded to assist Fage USA Dairy Inc. The yogurt manufacturing facility is expanding its operation at the Johnstown Industrial Park,

"We're very fortunate we've taken an aggressive role in these grant procedures," Slingerland said.

The council executed an annual $10,000 contract between the city and the James A. Brennan Memorial Humane Society for services with lost, stray or homeless dogs and cats in the city.

"This is essentially the same contract as last year, in wording and cost," Slingerland said.

The mayor appointed Patricia M. Luckey, of 163 Newkirk Road as an alternate school crossing guard for the Johnstown Police Department for the 2009-10 school year.

In a Department of Public Works report, 2nd Ward Councilman Chris Foss reported Consolidated Highway Improvement Program paving in the city has been completed.

He also said DPW will do leaf and brush curbside pickup in the city starting the second week of November. Foss urged residents to rake their leaves and brush near curbs and terraces and not into the street.