Point Marion mayor resigns
?POINT MARION — Borough council accepted the resignation of Mayor Bob Wolfe and will appoint someone to the position within the next month.
At Wednesday’s meeting, council members unanimously voted to accept Wolfe’s resignation. Wolfe had been at odds with council for the last several weeks.
Wolfe submitted a letter of resignation at the July 6 meeting but council did not act on it until Wednesday.
“I do thank council and the residents for 10½ years. If I can help anyone in the future I will,” Wolfe said, noting that there were no hard feelings.
Wolfe said he considered withdrawing his resignation letter but said at least one other person already expressed an interest in serving as mayor and that he feels the person should be given an opportunity.
One letter of interest was received from a person wishing to be appointed to the seat.
Council said anyone else interested being appointed should send a letter of interest to the borough, care of borough manager Art Strimel, at Post Office Box 236, Point Marion, Pa., 15474.
Council has 30 days from Wednesday to appoint someone.
Council President Alfred DuBois thanked Wolfe for his service and for attending Wednesday’s meeting.
In other business, council said Camp Run Bridge will soon be torn down.
The bridge officially has been closed since 2008. Council decided to close the deteriorating bridge after estimates to repair the bridge came in between $50,000 and $60,000. The borough, according to council, did not have enough money at the time to fix it or even tear it down.
The bridge provides access to one residence and a storage unit, both of which can be accessed without crossing the bridge.
Strimel said the Fayette County Bridge Department will be tearing the bridge down hopefully within the next several weeks.
In other matters, council adopted the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).
The code regulates construction and maintenance of structures and provides guidelines that gives the borough power to condemn structures deemed unfit for human occupancy.
Borough solicitor Gene Grimm said copies of the IPMC will be available for viewing at the borough building and that it was take affect five days from Wednesday.
Grimm said council opted to revise several sections of the IPMC to better serve the borough’s needs.
Fees as a result of council adopting the IPMC will also change.
Grimm said certificates of occupancy issued by the borough for single-unit homes and apartments will cost $40, and that the certificates will be $80 for commercial buildings.
In addition, Grimm said IPMC violations can result in up to a $1,000 fine per day and that the code requires weeds and grass to be no longer than 8 inches.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 7?p.m. Aug. 8 in the borough building.