BY JOHN E. USALIS
GIRARDVILLE - The borough will soon have a Quality of Life ordinance.
The borough council on Nov. 8 voted to advertise the law so it can adopt it at its December meeting.
The ordinance addresses problems that degrade the physical appearance of the community, which in turn reduces business and tax revenue, inhibits economic development and impacts negatively on the quality of life and community pride of citizens.
"I think borough council is satisfied with the draft I have, so I need a motion to approve the draft and to take all the steps necessary for formal adoption at the next meeting," solicitor Christopher Riedlinger said.
Similar ordinances have been adopted in Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Pottsville, Hazleton, West Hazleton and Reading.
Such ordinances allow the code enforcement officer or any public borough officer to issue tickets when he/she sees code violations such as accumulation of rubbish, animal feces not cleaned up, high weeds, grass or other plant overgrowth, indoor appliances and furniture outside on a porch or sidewalk and snow and ice not removed from sidewalks.
In other business, the council adopted a resolution designating the mayor ,a borough police officer, state police trooper and code enforcement officer/assistant code enforcement officer to have authority to enforce certain borough ordinances by the issuance of criminal summary citations.
"The district justice office recently called me questioning the authority of certain borough officials who file citations at their office," Riedlinger said. "I drew up the resolution just to make clear who council is authorizing to enforce our ordinances."
The council also OK'd the following agenda items:
- Permission for the Good Time Club to put up the Christmas decorations along Main Street on Nov. 17, weather permitting.
- Permission for Good Time Club to hold its annual Santa parade at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. The parade will move through Girardville, eventually passing by the borough Christmas tree on Main Street, where Santa Claus will light the tree and then proceed to the Girard Hose Company to meet local children.
- A resolution to apply for Community Development Block Grant funds for handicapped-accessible facilities in borough hall.
The council tabled a written request from the Girardville Fire Police for the borough to assist with funds to help purchase the proper equipment for each active member to do his/her job. The estimated cost of the equipment is $1,500 to $2,000. Since the request was delivered to borough hall before the meeting and council members were not aware of it until hearing it at the meeting, the request was tabled for review.
In order to accommodate the annual "Deck the Halls" display by the Girardville Area Historical Society at borough hall, which will open the first weekend in December and remain open through the Christmas season, council President Charles Marquardt announced the next council meeting will be held a week earlier at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6.