EMPORIUM — Members of the Emporium Borough Council discussed progress made at several properties in the borough that have had ordinance violations filed against the owners.
At a location on West Sixth Street, a citation was filed concerning unsafe conditions and general disrepair of the structure, which is an apartment building with a number of occupied units.
Borough Manager Don Reed stated that he believes all of the items listed in the ordinance have been addressed, but work was not completed on schedule. Reed plans a meeting with the owner to ensure all problems have been remedied. They will also discuss removal of all construction waste, which was ordered completed.
Reed and Borough Police Chief Dave Merritt plan to attend the hearing, scheduled for Jan. 4, in front of Magisterial District Judge Barry Brown. At least two neighbors also plan to attend the hearing.
A second home located on the corner of Woodland Avenue and Fifth Street had a citation filed against its owner recently. While some issues, including a small flock of free range chickens, have been remedied, a number of junk cars are still parked on the property.
Merritt stated that the property owner was recently found guilty of neglecting the area, and a fine will be imposed. The borough is looking into ways to legally remove the cars on the property.
Two blighted properties in Emporium are moving closer to likely demolition. The first home had an ordinance filed against it in August of 2013. The borough was finally able to track down the bank that currently owns the property and an inspector is being sent out to evaluate the structure. Due to the condition, it is likely it will have to be torn down, according to Reed.
An insurance adjuster is scheduled to inspect a home on East Fifth Street Extension that was completely destroyed by fire earlier this year. That home will have to be removed as the century-old home burned all the way through.
Council approved advertisement of a budget with no tax increase. The budget was recommended by the finance committee, and will be available for review at the Emporium Borough Building through Dec. 20, when a meeting will be held for adoption of the budget and tax levy beginning at 7 p.m.
The tax levy will remain the same at 16.91 mills, and will be advertised as Ordinance 492 in local papers.
At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, newly-elected council members Bob Hostler and David Hallowell were sworn in by Mayor Bruno Carnovale and were able to participate in the meeting. Hostler and Hallowell are taking seats vacated by Council President Joe Fragale, who chose not to run for re-election, and member Pat Garrigan, who was defeated in the general election. Members Randy Frey and Ben Newton were re-elected and also participated in the swearing-in ceremony.
The 74th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Day attacks in Hawaii was observed with a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting.
The next meeting of the Emporium Borough Council will be held on Dec. 21 for passage of the budget. A reorganizational meeting will be held on Jan. 4.
