PORT ALLEGANY — As numerous properties and structures in Port Allegany are falling into disrepair, code enforcement and the borough manager’s office have a “hit list” of dangerous structures to deal with — but it will take another month before the legalities are in place.
As Port Allegany Borough Council met Monday evening, council members combed through the recently advertised ordinances relating to defining dangerous structures, rental property registration, and fire insurance escrows, and decided to table a decision, and send the ordinances back for some revisions.
At first, Councilwoman Kate Kysor expressed some concern about the the costs associated with rental property registration.
“It kind of feels like the law abiding landlords that take care of their properties are getting punished and forced to pay more money so that we can rent these properties,” Kysor said. “We’re already paying property taxes on them.”
Borough solicitor Christa Schott assured Kyser that any fees for registration would be minimal. “By law, we cannot charge any more for the registration than it costs to administer that registration.” Postage and photocopies, and time to administer the registration could cost “at most just a few dollars,” according to Schott. And, she explained, the costs wouldn’t go into effect until next year or later, once they get an idea how much the registration costs to administer.
“Thank you for explaining that. It does set my mind at ease,” said Kysor.
As borough council read through the fines and penalties associated with code enforcement issues and dealing with structures, Councilman Dave Fair expressed concern that the fines for first offenses seemed stiff.
“I think we ought to be able to have a warning before we start fining people,” said Fair, who also thought the fines should be lowered a little as well.
Borough Manager Bob Veilleux said that in order to allow for warnings and adjust the fines, voting on the ordinance would need to be tabled until next month, while he and the solicitor reworded them. That would also require re-advertising the ordinance. Council voted to table that ordinance until then.
Kysor also asked about the capabilities of the code enforcement officer to handle the amount of work ahead of him.
“Not that I doubt his abilities, but I just wonder if there is more work than one person can do,” Kysor said.
The code enforcement officer is currently only working two days a week, but Veilleux explained the ordinance is worded in such a way that the borough manager, and anyone he appoints, can also assist in the process. He also explained they have already started assembling a list of properties that will need to be dealt with once the ordinances are in place.
Veilleux also told council that he has been working with the new engineering firm on issues at the water treatment plant. The borough has had issues related to a build-up of caustic soda on the interior of the piping in the well houses that lead to the detention take. Every few years, the caustic residue builds up and restricts the water flow.
In March, a section of pipe had to be replaced, and more will need to be replaced soon. Engineering firm Uni-Tech will be assisting to find some ways to reduce that problem.
The borough has also made some other equipment upgrades to the the well houses in relation to chlorine and caustic soda. The doors have been fitted with panic bars instead of handles, and new personnel equipment will need to be ordered, including full face respirators and organic vapor/acid gas filter cartridges, gloves and aprons. Those respirators will need to be individually fit tested for each of the six borough employees who would be using them, as a cost of more than $2,000. Officials said every two years, those respirators would need to be refit, and replacement cartridges would need to be purchased at a cost of about $350 per year.
