Charleroi is looking into new methods and ordinances to curb property blight.
At Thursday's council meeting, borough manager Donn Henderson pitched a vacant property recovery program similar to one being used in Wilkinsburg.
Henderson said the program centers around acquiring tax delinquent properties from either absentee landlords or the county repository and either selling properties to neighboring residents or rehabilitating them to establish affordable housing.
Henderson told council he'd like to begin implementing the program in March.
“We're going to identify properties, go to neighbors, ask if they want to buy them and maybe we'll pay the legal fees if they enter into a covenant of sorts with us to keep them maintained,” Henderson told council.
“I'd rather pay $100-something in legal fees to sell them than cut the grass 12 times this summer. And we win in that situation.”
Henderson asked council to consider passing ordinances mandating property maintenance codes for out-of-town landlords and pre-sale inspections, along with other stipulations.
Charleroi requires owners of rental properties to register with the borough, but Henderson said council needs more legal weapons.
“There are some ordinances that help fight blight,” Henderson said. “Some of them we have, some of them we don't think would work and some of them we do. So we're going to look at those and see what we can bring to the table … to help fight blight.”
In a related matter, council unanimously voted to pursue a $64,000 civil lien against the property that formerly housed the Columbus Hotel.
The cost comprises $59,000 for demolition and $5,000 in borough maintenance costs. An out-of-state owner acquired the property online.
“We want to eventually go to court and try and get the property. And by having that lien, if the owner comes back and says, ‘No you can't have it. I want it,' we can say, ‘OK, well, you owe us $64,000.' And he's going to say it's not worth it,” Henderson said after the meeting.
Councilman Larry Celaschi said he's been trying to attract business to the town and is speaking to potential investors about unused properties.
Cap needed
Council approved the acquisition of a property that contains a vacant gas well. The well was discovered last year in an alleyway residence between Ninth and 10th streets, Henderson said.
The house will have to be torn down and the well capped. The maximum cost to the borough will be $5,000, plus legal fees, Henderson said.
“We shut down the property. It's a hazardous situation,” Henderson said.
“We went to the state and got $147,000 to tear it down and cap it, but it's a big deal. We need to move power lines in order for the drilling rig to come in, and we've got to work around the house right next to it.”
Attendance required
At meeting's end, council debated for nearly 10 minutes before approving a request for Charleroi Regional Police Chief Mike Matyas to attend council meetings and public events.
Councilman Randy DiPiazza amended the motion, stating that if the chief cannot attend, that one of the department's three lieutenants will do so.
“Before we became a regional police (force), as far back as I can remember, the chief always attended the regular stated meetings of this council,” DiPiazza said.
“I believe it's our prerogative to ask for it. I don't think we're asking a whole lot here. … All the other department heads are here. The chief should be here.”
Council President Paul Pivovarnik and Councilman Jerry Jericho questioned the move.
“I personally don't think it needs to be the chief, as long as an officer attends when they can and it's not hindering being out on a call,” Pivovarnik said.
Henderson said the request is reasonable and necessary.
“First of all, the chief isn't on duty, so we're not taking an officer off the street to attend the meeting. … I attended the Speers meeting the other night, and there were four questions and (they) all said, ‘We have to check with the chief,'” Henderson said.
“You guys make 100 bucks a month to sit here and take whatever people feed you. … These meetings are informational. I will assure you the chief is not aware of half of these things going on.
“I would like to see 40 residents here to know what's going on and what we're working on. And I'd certainly like to make sure everyone in this building knows what's going on.”
Celaschi said attendance by the chief should fall under the borough's new methods.
“I believe when you have the leader of your police force here, that creates a positive image for this town,” he said. “With 2014 being a new year, and doing things a little different, that's one of the things that should be on the table right now.”
The request will be taken to the Charleroi Regional Police board at its February meeting.
In other action, council:
• Agreed to advertise for a part-time code enforcement officer who will recieve approximately $11 per hour and work 20 hours per week.
• Approved purchase and installation of a lock and camera system at the borough building. The cost cannot exceed $6,000. Four electronic locks and cameras will be placed at the building's four main entrances for security purposes.
• Agreed to replace the traffic light at the intersection of Fifth Street and McKean Avenue at a cost of $8,890. The work will include wiring for the future installation of a surveillance camera.
Rick Bruni Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at rbruni@tribweb.com or 724-684-2635.
