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Perryopolis officials approve blight ordinance

By Erin Hayes for The 3 min read

PERRYOPOLIS — Borough officials are moving into the new year with a new blight ordinance and on Wednesday unanimously approved a tentative 2015 budget that reflects a net gain of $9,459 and leaves the mill rate unchanged at 3.701.

The tentative budget reflects $758,459 in total expenditures and $767,918 in total income.

While residents will face no tax increases, changes in health insurance policies approved by council will require that four full-time borough employees pay deductibles for healthcare services, said Vice President Frank Masney, Jr.

The borough was facing a 2.5 percent increase in 2015 had it continued with its current insurance plan, which requires no deductibles from employees. Under the new plan, which will save the borough $9,707, deductibles for an individual will be $1,250, and $2,500 for a family, he said.

In a 5-2 vote, council also adopted a new blight ordinance designed to more quickly eradicate unsightly blight -like trash, abandoned vehicles, appliances, furniture, and high grass and weeds. The ordinance imposes fines ranging from $25 to $200 for property code violations.

The ordinance, designed to streamline the process of punishing violators, would help protect the community against would-be criminals who might be under the impression that a blighted property is an abandoned property, said borough Solicitor Deanna Fahringer, who drafted the new ordinance.

Under the ordinance, violators will be fined $25 for the first offence, $50 for the second, $100 for the third, and $200 for the forth. Borough police — and even state police, should they choose to do so — will be issuing violation citations, she said. Once ticketed, violators will have 10 days to correct the problem or face will face further sanctions in court.

Councilmen Garrett Hoose and Tom Kmetz cast the opposing votes.

The same councilmen also cast votes opposing the annexation of vacant property proposed by Masney, a move required for the completion of the Erdely Subdivision project, with Kmetz raising the question of a possible conflict of interest because Masney’s company, GPS-Tech, Inc., had been surveying the property in question.

Fahringer said there no conflict of interest if Masney abstained from voting on the proposal.

The motion to annex the property passed 4-2, with Masney abstaining.

In other business, council:

n Directed Fahringer to file a complaint with the magistrate’s court against the current waste service provider, Fayette Waste, for third quarter impact fees in the amount of $9,000 owed to the borough. They also approved pursuing the collection of $6,288 in back fees owed by the same company.

n Approved a five-year garbage contract with Waste Management at $16.79 per month including a $4-per-month residence impact fee, effective Jan. 1.

n Agreed to enter into a contract, pending Fahringer’s review, with Sam Vargo Animal Control to provide animal control services to the borough for $150 per month, with one month free.

n Approved an ordinance related to the use of engine brakes by heavy trucks to protect against loud noise along Route 51. Two signs will be erected along the road, with one going in each direction.

n Announced that Christmas treats will be passed out at the borough building from 2 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14.

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