Fees are too high
At the Jan. 4 West Brownsville Borough Council meeting, a resolution was passed to begin the inspections of all rental units in the borough. I have been a long supporter for this inspection, first as landlord and now as a West Brownsville councilman.
I also support the hiring of a borough resident to do the inspections. This person is more than qualified. However, by a 4 to 3 vote, an annual fee of $120 will be charged for the inspection. I voted no.
Uniontown was trying to charge a fee of only $50 and that was seen to be too high by the landlords. Pittsburgh is trying to pass a $45 inspection fee and that seemed too high for those landlords. Now Charleroi is trying to pass a $100 inspection fee.
Two years ago, McMillen Engineering was to do the borough inspection for a fee of $145 (I fought this fee); $30 of which would be credited to the borough. Council strongly supported this fee and thought it was fair. Now council wants it all.
For an inspection that only lasts no more than 30 minutes, I would support a $50 inspection with $30 going to the borough and $20 to the inspector. Thirty dollars was fair enough for the borough two years ago. It should be fair enough now.
Council, in the 2016 budget, hopes to bring in $10,000 from a little over 100 rentals. The purpose of this in the original ordinance was for the safety and welfare of tenants, but council has turned it into a cash cow for the general fund.
I’m asking all landlords who own property in West Brownsville to be at the Feb. 9 borough council meeting to support me in getting this unjust fee changed.
Richard C. Black, Sr.
West Brownsville