SHENANDOAH - Two proposed ordinances to deal with blight issues in the borough will be advertised for formal adoption by the Shenandoah Borough Council in August.
The borough council took action at Monday's meeting upon the recommendation of borough solicitor Michael A. O'Pake after explaining the purposes of both ordinances.
"As council is well aware, there are a number of issues in the borough with regard to property maintenance, blight and things of that nature," O'Pake said. "I have prepared two ordinances that I would like to have your permission to advertise."
The first ordinance he introduced was the "Neighborhood Blight Protection and Enforcement Ordinance, which provides certain protections and safeguards in order to address deteriorating properties, public nuisances and properties in serious violation of state law and municipal codes, O'Pake said.
"These protections would include the denial of permits issued by the borough, be they building, parking, occupancy, special exceptions and variances from zoning ordinances, and things of that nature," O'Pake said. "And it authorizes actions at law and in equity in order to address deteriorated properties that have an impact upon crime, the quality of life of the residents of Shenandoah and required expenditure of public funds by the borough to correct or abate these nuisances, violations and delinquent services accounts."
O'Pake said the actions at law would be "in personam" actions, which would be directed to the person, not the property. "What that would allow you to do is once you collect judgment against that person, that judgment could be used to attach that person's assets in another state or anywhere in the commonwealth."
The denial of permits would also apply to those who are delinquent in municipal service payments, such as garbage, water and sewage and tax delinquency.
"It's just another tool that the borough can use to give some teeth to your enforcement efforts," O'Pake said. "It extends to any property in the commonwealth. So if they're delinquent on a property in Mahanoy City, you can deny them a permit in Shenandoah."
O'Pake then spoke of the second ordinance, which is commonly called the "Quality of Life Ordinance."
"It sets forth 20 quality of life violations, which include the accumulation of rubbish on one's property, failure to clean up animal feces, high weeds, grass and plant life, placing indoor appliances and furniture outside on your porch or sidewalk, failure to clean snow and ice off sidewalks," O'Pake said.
O'Pake said the ordinance will allow Code Enforcement Officer John Boxer or a police officer to issue tickets when they see violations. The first offense is $25, second offense within 12 months is $50 and the third offense is $100, all of which can be applied daily until the problem is abated. Someone who receives a ticket can receive an appeal hearing before the borough council. If the fine remains unpaid, a lien can be placed on the property.
The advertising of both ordinances were approved unanimously.
