West Brownsville to raze buildings
WEST BROWNSVILLE – Borough council unanimously voted the adoption of a new dangerous- building ordinance to replace an existing ordinance that was created in 1957. On Tuesday, borough solicitor Nick Timperio said the updated version of the ordinance was needed in order to stipulate court hearing provisions, provide the borough with more power to cite people and provide for updated fines.
Five dilapidated structures in the borough may not have to be condemned, but instead can be purchased by the borough, according to councilman Larry Beck.
Beck, who has been working diligently to cleanup dilapidated structures in the borough, said he has targeted five structures, which are already partially collapsed, that the borough can purchase through the Claims Bureau.
“These are the five that I think are the absolute worst,” Beck said.
Beck said that three of the structures are located on the wall above Pittsburgh Street, one is located along Route 88 and one is located on Woodlawn Road.
He said that a contractor has agreed to demolish the structures for free if the borough will pay $180 for fuel for the machinery.
With a controlled burn utilizing the fire department, the structures can be safely destroyed, Beck said. Council unanimously voted to purchase the five dilapidated structures and to clean up the properties.
In other business, council agreed to review the eight applicants who have applied for the vacant street commissioner position.
According to Patricia Maxon, council president, the position was vacated about 10 months ago when the previous street commissioner and current councilman Bill White resigned. Maxon said the borough advertised the position in the Summer, but weren’t able to fill it and had to advertise again.
White said that the borough needed to fill the position quickly, since the borough currently has no one to mow along and clean-up the streets.
“We need to get somebody in there quick,” White said.
After reviewing the applicants, council will be conducting interviews later this week.