Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES AUGUST 17, 2010 1. Mayor Robert Mezzo called the special meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: RESIDENTS: Twenty T. K. Rossi H. Kuczenski R. Burns R. Neth PRESS: P. Singley A. Campbell P. Scully, absent D. Deblasio M. Ciacciarella R. Woodfield Channel 3 M. V. Fragoso Channel 61 DEPARTMENT HEADS: OTHERS: R. Roland, Street Superintendent BJ Forlenzo, Blight Comm. Co-Chair E. Carter, Mayoral Aide L. Ramos, Blight Comm. Co-Chair K. Hanks, Deputy Fire Chief M. Katra, Finance Board 2. Mayor Mezzo led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Public Comment: Linda Ramos and BJ Forlenzo, Co-Chairs of the Blight and Beautification Council, gave a brief presentation on the year long history of the council and the work done to establish the proposed Blight and Nuisance Ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance is to define, prohibit and abate blights and nuisances and to protect, preserve, promote public health, safety and welfare, and to preserve and protect property values. A slide show of blighted properties around the Borough was shown. Residents commented the following on the proposed blight ordinance: • Support of the proposed blight ordinance • The ordinance has provisions for residents financially and physically unable to comply • Proposed blight ordinance is similar to others in the state • Blight is not always caused by foreclosures or economic times but due to an unwillingness to clean and maintain a property • Proposed ordinance has duplication to the current Zoning Regulations • Questioned the cost to the Borough to enforce the proposed ordinance • Will residents with mental illness have to disclose in order to be compliant? • Encouraged the Board to pass the ordinance 4. Burgesses had the following comments during the discussion of the proposed Blight Ordinance: Burgess Fragoso said a lot of time and effort went into the development of the ordinance. She said the Blight and Beautification Council is a cohesive group.  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – August 17, 2010 The ordinance addresses deplorable properties. She said the Borough needs to address our own properties. Burgess Ciacciarella commended the committee for their work. He asked several questions about the ordinance. He feels the Zoning Commission should have an opportunity to review the proposed ordinance and give feedback. He suggested the money collected from fines be used to have a bulk pick up. Burgess Campbell agrees with the proposed Blight and Nuisance Ordinance. He would love to eliminate the fees at the recycling center. Deputy Mayor Rossi thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. She said many hours were spent on developing the ordinance. All department heads including the Zoning Enforcement Officer were asked for their input on the proposed ordinance. Burgess Burns suggested the Board review the ordinance after it has been in effect. 5. Motion by Burgess Campbell and seconded by Burgess Burns that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses accept the Blight Ordinance as proposed. Motion rescinded. 6. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Burgess Campbell and seconded by Burgess Burns that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses accept the Blight Ordinance as proposed with an effective date of November 1, 2010. 7. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Burgess Campbell and seconded by Deputy Mayor Rossi to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. A recording of this meeting is available in the office of the Borough Clerk for further review. Attest: Nancy K. DiMeo Borough Clerk cc: Mayor/Burgesses/Controller/File