Councilmen: Code Enforcement is
Number One Priority of Bradford Citizens
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Bradford’s newest councilmen agree that code enforcement is the number one priority of city residents.
Almost all public comment council has received in the last six months has been about code enforcement, blighted properties and the historic district, said Councilman Fred Proper during Tuesday's council meeting.
“The quality of life in our community is being affected by the property in the community – deteriorating property,” he said.
As a council, “You got it across to us that it’s probably the number one priority in this community right now. We need to work together to handle that.”
“I’ve got the message that it is the number one priority, aside from maybe some financial problems that we’re going to have to face,” he said.
“This is the number one issue – blighted properties, code enforcement,” Councilman Jim Evans said. “The only reason it surpasses financial is we’re not building a budget right now.”
“That message has come through loud and clear from the citizens,” Evans said. “And this council will keep that as a top priority. We’re not sure what changes will have to be made, but there may have to be some changes.”
Earlier in the meeting, School Street resident Dick McDowell said the code enforcement program has to change. One of the examples McDowell used is that there’s been a tarp on a Summer Street property that’s been there so long that the tarp is deteriorating.
McDowell said the failure of the system is not the fault of code enforcement officers George Corignani and Merle Silvis
“It’s not the people. It’s the system. How long is it going to take council to understand that the system here of code enforcement has been broken? It’s been broken for years. There’s has not been any attempt to change it,” McDowell said.
“Until … we take it out of the fire department, you’re not going to have any improvement,” he said. “Can you change it? Let’s be serious about this.”
Fire Chief Boo Coder said, “We feel that we’re moving ahead. We do feel like we’re making a change. … It isn’t like our eyes are closed.”
Mayor Tom Riel, who has said several times that he thinks code enforcement should be moved to the Office of Economic and Community Development, reiterated his position.
He said he believes it would be fiscally prudent to move code enforcement to OECD “because you could do a lot more for less money.”
“Regardless of who does code enforcement George and Merle are, number one, firemen,” said Councilman Ross Neidich, who oversees the fire department and code enforcement. “You can take code enforcement out of the fire department but you’ve still got George and Merle and you’re paying for them.”
If you hire three people to work for code enforcement in OECD for $30,000 each, you’re spending an extra $90,000 that you’re not spending now, Neidich said.
“We’ve laid off policemen. We’ve laid off garbage men. We’ve laid off streets guys,” Riel said. “At the end of the year, I hate to say this, but maybe we’d have to look at manning issues there (in the fire department). We’re going to have to look at this across the board.”
“You are threatening the fire department to lay the code enforcement off and then lay two firemen off? Is that what you’re saying?” Coder asked. “We made a deal with the city if you remember, Mr. Mayor.”
Riel explained that last year when council was working on the budget, they went to all the city departments and asked them to make concessions to help them save money. The departments that helped were immune from lay offs this year.
(Listen to Riel, Neidich and Coder here.)
Also earlier in the meeting, Coder said he doesn’t believe code enforcement is behind in its work.
“If you think we’re behind, Tom,” he said to Riel, “tell me what it is. If you don’t think we’re doing the job tell us what it is you don’t think we’re doing.”
Riel said it’s not that Corignani and Silvis aren’t working, it’s that “there’s a whole area in the middle” that’s not being addressed because they don’t have the time. He was referring to properties that he thinks should be cited for minor infractions before they become major.
“It’s real easy for you to sit there and say that,” Coder said. “But they’re out there all the time with their eyes open. I mean it isn’t like they’re going down the street blindfolded.”
“A lot of the things that you think aren’t getting taking care of may already be in the works – may already be in the legal system,” he said. “The wheels of justice turn awful slow. And even when we get them to a magistrate doesn’t mean we’re going to get a result or we’re going to come to any kind of finality at all.”
Chestnut Street resident Fran Bottone asked if it’s possible to attach outstanding code enforcement fines to a person’s taxes.
“Pennsylvania is not a real friendly state in terms of debt collection,” said City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck.
Outside of child support, landlord/tenant issues and back federal or state taxes “you have a tough time,” he said.
In a work session prior to the council meeting, code enforcement issues within the historic district were discussed.
Council learned that no one has been cited for a violation in the district since 2004.
Commercial building inspector Mark Grassi was not at the meeting to answer questions. City clerk John Peterson plans to set up a meeting between himself, Grassi, Riel, HARB Chairman Sam Sylvester and Main Street Manager Anita Dolan to make sure Grassi knows what’s expected of him.
Prior to 2004, Corignani and Silvis handled both residential and commercial building inspections and code violations.
Pictured, School Street resident Dick McDowell makes his point about changing the city's code enforcement program. Listening are (from left) Brad Mangel, Jim Belardia, Jeremy Callinan, John Kohler, (Sam Sylvester, blocked by McDowell) Harold Beck, Anita Dolan, Bob Baker, Helen Burfield, Chris Distrola.
Because of popular demand for an encore, I present the following for your listening pleasure:
All the Firemen Have Been There
WESB/WBRR News Director
Bradford’s newest councilmen agree that code enforcement is the number one priority of city residents.
Almost all public comment council has received in the last six months has been about code enforcement, blighted properties and the historic district, said Councilman Fred Proper during Tuesday's council meeting.
“The quality of life in our community is being affected by the property in the community – deteriorating property,” he said.
As a council, “You got it across to us that it’s probably the number one priority in this community right now. We need to work together to handle that.”
“I’ve got the message that it is the number one priority, aside from maybe some financial problems that we’re going to have to face,” he said.
“This is the number one issue – blighted properties, code enforcement,” Councilman Jim Evans said. “The only reason it surpasses financial is we’re not building a budget right now.”
“That message has come through loud and clear from the citizens,” Evans said. “And this council will keep that as a top priority. We’re not sure what changes will have to be made, but there may have to be some changes.”
Earlier in the meeting, School Street resident Dick McDowell said the code enforcement program has to change. One of the examples McDowell used is that there’s been a tarp on a Summer Street property that’s been there so long that the tarp is deteriorating.McDowell said the failure of the system is not the fault of code enforcement officers George Corignani and Merle Silvis
“It’s not the people. It’s the system. How long is it going to take council to understand that the system here of code enforcement has been broken? It’s been broken for years. There’s has not been any attempt to change it,” McDowell said.
“Until … we take it out of the fire department, you’re not going to have any improvement,” he said. “Can you change it? Let’s be serious about this.”
Fire Chief Boo Coder said, “We feel that we’re moving ahead. We do feel like we’re making a change. … It isn’t like our eyes are closed.”
Mayor Tom Riel, who has said several times that he thinks code enforcement should be moved to the Office of Economic and Community Development, reiterated his position.
He said he believes it would be fiscally prudent to move code enforcement to OECD “because you could do a lot more for less money.”
“Regardless of who does code enforcement George and Merle are, number one, firemen,” said Councilman Ross Neidich, who oversees the fire department and code enforcement. “You can take code enforcement out of the fire department but you’ve still got George and Merle and you’re paying for them.”
If you hire three people to work for code enforcement in OECD for $30,000 each, you’re spending an extra $90,000 that you’re not spending now, Neidich said.
“We’ve laid off policemen. We’ve laid off garbage men. We’ve laid off streets guys,” Riel said. “At the end of the year, I hate to say this, but maybe we’d have to look at manning issues there (in the fire department). We’re going to have to look at this across the board.”
“You are threatening the fire department to lay the code enforcement off and then lay two firemen off? Is that what you’re saying?” Coder asked. “We made a deal with the city if you remember, Mr. Mayor.”
Riel explained that last year when council was working on the budget, they went to all the city departments and asked them to make concessions to help them save money. The departments that helped were immune from lay offs this year.
(Listen to Riel, Neidich and Coder here.)
Also earlier in the meeting, Coder said he doesn’t believe code enforcement is behind in its work.
“If you think we’re behind, Tom,” he said to Riel, “tell me what it is. If you don’t think we’re doing the job tell us what it is you don’t think we’re doing.”
Riel said it’s not that Corignani and Silvis aren’t working, it’s that “there’s a whole area in the middle” that’s not being addressed because they don’t have the time. He was referring to properties that he thinks should be cited for minor infractions before they become major.
“It’s real easy for you to sit there and say that,” Coder said. “But they’re out there all the time with their eyes open. I mean it isn’t like they’re going down the street blindfolded.”
“A lot of the things that you think aren’t getting taking care of may already be in the works – may already be in the legal system,” he said. “The wheels of justice turn awful slow. And even when we get them to a magistrate doesn’t mean we’re going to get a result or we’re going to come to any kind of finality at all.”
Chestnut Street resident Fran Bottone asked if it’s possible to attach outstanding code enforcement fines to a person’s taxes.
“Pennsylvania is not a real friendly state in terms of debt collection,” said City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck.
Outside of child support, landlord/tenant issues and back federal or state taxes “you have a tough time,” he said.
In a work session prior to the council meeting, code enforcement issues within the historic district were discussed.
Council learned that no one has been cited for a violation in the district since 2004.
Commercial building inspector Mark Grassi was not at the meeting to answer questions. City clerk John Peterson plans to set up a meeting between himself, Grassi, Riel, HARB Chairman Sam Sylvester and Main Street Manager Anita Dolan to make sure Grassi knows what’s expected of him.
Prior to 2004, Corignani and Silvis handled both residential and commercial building inspections and code violations.
Pictured, School Street resident Dick McDowell makes his point about changing the city's code enforcement program. Listening are (from left) Brad Mangel, Jim Belardia, Jeremy Callinan, John Kohler, (Sam Sylvester, blocked by McDowell) Harold Beck, Anita Dolan, Bob Baker, Helen Burfield, Chris Distrola.
Because of popular demand for an encore, I present the following for your listening pleasure:
All the Firemen Have Been There
.jpg)
Comments