LEWISTOWN - Lewistown Borough hopes to crack down on negligent landlords with consideration of a new ordinance.
The council discussed an ordinance that would mandate the fining of landlords for rental properties that were not maintained to specific standards during its monthly meeting on Monday evening. This ordinance also was discussed during the law and ordinance committee meeting last month.
To enforce the ordinance, the borough will most likely need to hire another codes officer and another secretary to tackle the additional paperwork it would produce, said the borough's solicitor, Jeffrey Snook.
"It makes no sense to just have an ordinance on the books without enforcing it," Snook advised the council.
Nelson Rieffannacht informed the council he was in favor of the new ordinance.
"I think this is an excellent opportunity for the borough to get rid of some of these blighted properties ... if anything, it would increase property values," Rieffannacht said.
Not all council members were in agreement. Frank Berrier said he felt that an additional property maintenance ordinance would be detrimental to property sales within the borough.
"We have a system in place already to inspect properties," Berrier said. "Given all the properties for sale in the borough, anymore regulation would be a hindrance to property sales."
The council discussed a fee structure with Codes Officer Rex Fink that the borough could choose to place in the ordinance for those landlords who violate it. Fink informed the council that in Berwick a landlord is usually fined $40 for the first rental property in violation of the ordinance, and in Dillsburg a landlord can be charged up to $120 for their first offense.
The council also discussed whether it wanted to instruct the law and ordinance committee to continue with determining the costs associated with adopting the ordinance or if it should instruct borough staff to continue its efforts in determining its usefulness.
"I have no problem with it going to law and ordinance, but two out of three members have gone on record as against it," Rieffannacht said.
Council member Russ Rager, who also is member of the law and ordinance committee, said he spoke against the ordinance at the last meeting due to his concern regarding the cost associated with enforcement.
"Other than the cost, I like it," Rager said of the ordinance.
Rieffannacht brought forward a motion, seconded by council member Matt Moore, calling for the council to move forward with enacting the ordinance. Berrier and council member Larry Searer both cast dissenting votes and council member Jim Felmlee was not in attendance. The motion carried 4 to 2.
The council opted to direct borough staff to make its recommendations to council, after which point the proposed ordinance may be sent to the law and ordinance committee for its review before it is brought to the council for approval.
Also during the council's regular meeting, the following actions were taken:
Approved a request to use the community center at Rec Park in conjunction with a family briefing in preparation of the return of the local National Guard unit HCC 2/112 Infantry Stryker Brigade. The council also waived the usual fee associated with rental of the community building.
Approved a request from Friends of the Embassy to close South Main Street from Monument Square to Water Street from 5 to 9 p.m. July 4 in conjunction with a concert event.
Approved two requested exonerations from properties that had water-main breakdowns and incurred unusually high water bills. The one request was approved on the condition that borough staff inspected to property and finds the request legitimate.
Approved a request from Downtown Lewistown Inc to block off north Monument Square and Main Street in conjunction with its Night Out event in October.
Accepted the resignation of Ronald Notestine from the planning commission and appointed Oksana Dearment to replace Notestine.
Approved the amendment of the borough's application for 2009 CDBG funding of $154,799 to be designated entirely to paving projects within the borough.
