MAHANOY CITY - The Mahanoy Township Board of Supervisors adopted by ordinance the 2009 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code at Thursday's meeting.
The 50-plus page code will bring uniformity enforcing code violations within the township.
Explaining the general purpose of the IPMC was township solicitor Eric Lieberman.
"The International Property Maintenance Code establishes the minimum regulations governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures to insure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use, and for the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use and the demolition of such structures."
The IPMC was developed by the International Code Council. The first edition was in 1998, with revisions published in 2006 and 2009, which is the current edition.
"The code has been utilized by many municipalities to maintain the condition of properties and to overall just regulate residential and non-residential structures," Lieberman said. "The intent of the property maintenance code is to ensure public health, safety and welfare."
He added that the IPMC will organize the property codes for easier enforcement.
"The township has a lot of nuisance ordinances that are piecemeal - covering this problem, covering that problem. What this does, and why a lot of municipalities like this ordinance, is it puts everything in one place," Lieberman said. "It covers almost everything you can think of, such as structures that are unfit for human occupancy, weeds, junk, rubbish, properties that are falling and in such disrepair to the point where it a danger to a neighbor. This is going to give the township something that you can really look to when you get a complaint from the community."
The supervisors adopted the IPMC ordinance unanimously.
Lieberman explained that a requirement of adopting the IPMC is that the township must appoint a code enforcement officer, as well as establish an appeals board.
The supervisors appointed Larry Levy, Mahanoy City, as the code enforcement officer on an as-needed basis. Levy is also the part-time code enforcement officer in Frackville. Supervisor Chairwoman Sharon Chiao said Levy would work during his regular hours in Frackville and said he has certifications to hold the position.
"We contacted Frackville and he's well recommended and well liked," said Supervisor Vice Chairman James Stevens. "He's doing a wonderful job up there."
Resident James Mreese asked about the procedure in contacting Levy. Lieberman said a complaint should be made at the municipal building, and Levy would be contacted to investigate.
The next step was creating the appeals board. Chiao recommended Frank Filiziani as a board member, though the appointment is contingent on his acceptance. The other appointments were Stevens as the board chairman, Faith Ward as the third board member, and Marie Stevens as secretary. The alternates are Chiao and Kathy Sierdzinski.
