California council may hire code enforcement officer
CALIFORNIA — California Borough Council is exploring its options for code enforcement.
There had been a motion before council to hire a full-time code enforcement officer, but Patsy Alfano, who raised the possibility of hiring a local code officer, tabled the motion to advertise for that position at the June 22 continued meeting. HMT and Associates of Canonsburg has been handling code issues and building inspections for the borough, but on a part-time basis.
“I’ve been talking to HMT and asked them to present a proposal for full-time coverage,” Alfano said.
Alfano said the borough can then compare the proposal to the cost of hiring its own full-time code officer, with HMT continuing to inspect commercial buildings.
Alfano said he has received one letter of interest from an individual interested in serving on the Uniform Construction Code Appeals Board, with four others verbally expressing interest.
Meanwhile, the California Borough Planning Commission proposed a compromise for property at 316 Ash St. Alfano said the house is in the R-1 residential zone, but is directly across the alley from the C-2 commercial district where student housing is permitted.
The house is currently occupied by Ryan Catone, who is part owner of the property, and several other students. The proposal is to allow Catone to use the property for student housing until his graduation from California University of Pennsylvania in 2012, with provisions attached to the conditional use. SolicitorErnest DeHaas said he would have an agreement ready to be voted on by council at the July meeting.
Joe Catone, Ryan Catone’s father, noted that he voluntarily came forward, asking about permits for student housing for the property.
“We are surrounded by rentals that have probably been grandfathered in, right on the border,” Joe Catone said. “Our only problem with the agreement is what do we do when he graduates? We feel it’s prejudicial toward him as an owner not to be able to have another person continue to live there while they go to graduate school.”
In other matters, council tabled a vote on a part-time secretary until the July meeting, giving the full council an opportunity to review information from interviews that were conducted.
Council also asked DeHaas to look into options for the garbage contract which expires in September. Council wants to know if the current contract can be extended for a year or if it needs to be put out for bids. It was noted that several companies have expressed interest in the contract.