Point Marion hires code enforcement officer
POINT MARION — Borough council hired Wednesday a new code enforcement officer and appointed an appeals board to rule on code issues.
Frederick Heningin of Smithfield was hired as a part-time code officer at a pay rate of $12 an hour. Borough Manager Art Strimel said Heningin will start immediately as the borough’s sole code enforcement officer.
“He is a very qualified applicant who will do a good job serving the borough,” Strimel said.
The code enforcement officer’s post has been vacant since October after Mike Garolwich resigned to pursue other opportunities. Council created the post in January 2012 and then hired Garolwich, an experienced code enforcement officer.
On a related note, council appointed five members to the borough’s code appeals board. Anyone who is cited by the code enforcement officer can have their claim adjudicated by the appeals board.
The person appealing the code enforcement officer’s citation must pay a filing fee first before the appeals board hears the case. All cases would be adjudicated within 20 days after the appeal is filed with the borough office.
The appeals board has the power to rule in favor or against the code enforcement officer’s recommendations as well make suggestions of ways to improve property to those who come before the board.
Council appointed John Goff, Chuck Rosnick, Kevin White, Max Justice and Vince Billek to serve as members of the appeals board.
“These are all good people and well-qualified,” said councilman Gary Reynolds.
In other business, Strimel said one of the two blowers used by the borough’s sewage treatment plant needs major repairs. He said the blowers, which are essential to the sewage plant’s operation, were installed in 1979. The last time the blower was serviced was after the epic flood of 1985.
Strimel said the busted blower, which weighs more than 5,500 pounds, was vibrating so badly that it had to be shut down completely.
Strimel said it is more cost efficient to have the blower rebuilt at the factory for $9,000 rather than buy a new one, which would cost at least $22,500. Council is making plans to service and perhaps rebuild the other blower, but no decision was made.
After council approved the expenditure to rebuild the blower, Strimel said the work should be completed with a few weeks.
In other news, the borough is actively trying to recruit a police officer. Mayor Carl Ables did not provide any names until the hiring process is more complete, but he said one person with eight years of experience as a small-town police officer has expressed interest in the job.
In other business, council discussed looking into placing a portable toiled in the riverside park. Though the concession stand boasts newly refurbished bathrooms, they are not always open to the public.
And if funds become more readily available, councilwoman Victoria Evans suggested the borough invest in some simple aesthetic improvements and security cameras for the park.