FT Looking at Blight Problem

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


Foster Township has a growing problem with abandoned buildings, in part because of the floundering economy.

Those buildings, and blight, were among the issues discussed during Monday's Foster Township supervisors meeting.

Code Enforcement Officer John Place said he's been called out nine times in the past month and those complaints are in "various stages of investigation and enforcement."

Some of the problem properties are on Derrick Road, South Second Street, Harrisburg Run and Seaward Avenue.

Place said one of the problems he has is that the buildings are abandoned and he can't find out who owns them. He said Bank of America owns one property, but county officials can't tell him how to contact the bank.

"These foreclosures … are starting to become a problem in that regard," Place said, adding that if the owners didn't pay their 2008 taxes "we don't have any clue" as to who to go after.

"Maybe you need to find the guy who bought the ad in the paper and get him to get some pictures …" said Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike, referring to a full-page ad in Friday's Bradford Era that featured several pictures of blighted properties in the city, and asked if taxpayers are getting their money's worth from the Code Enforcement Office.

The next day, a condemned house on Terrace Street collapsed.

"I want out before that happens to me," Place said.

Also during Monday's meeting, Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked if it was possible for township police cars to be equipped with cameras.

Police Chief Jeff Wolbert said they could get cameras "but that's money, and I don't know if the supervisors have money."

Perry said a camera costs about $7,500 and would pay for itself it about a year.

He added that the Otto-Eldred Regional Police Department has the cameras for the safety of its officers.

Supervisor Chris Wolcott said supervisors will look into it.

Also Monday, township resident Jim Connolly commended Pete Gardner, Pam Fredeen and Pete Graham for organizing last month's Derrick City Reunion.

He said they "go out of their way" to put on the event. About 200 people attended.

Connolly said he would like to see the event grow and bring in more people.

In other matters, supervisors agreed to hire James Erwin as a part time police officer.

Wolcott commended the township sewer crew for using its new camera to identify inflow and infiltration problems. He said they found and repaired "significant leaks."

Next month's meeting will be held on September 14 instead of September 7 because of the Labor Day holiday.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Maybe I'll attend the next meeting and bring up the blatant favoritism going on in regards to the Highway Department in Foster Twp. Some residents are fortunate enough to get their driveways repaired with extra black top and fill at no cost. The good 'ol boy system is alive and well I see.

If you do for one...you do for all. We all pay taxes! Not just your friends...Joe Sweet

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