That committee (Mr. Robertson, Darryl Jannone, Alfonse Ciaccio, George Jennings, along with Kurt Bastion) met, as well as Administrator Amy Seeley, Code Enforcement officer Dave Wilson, Fire Chief J. Scott May, Police Chief Doug Seeley and Sergeant Trey Kurtz, and three landlords with properties in the Borough, Beverly Wesneski, Norm Williams and Michael Viscusi.
Mr. Robertson brought the meeting to order and said "I am glad to see members of the emergency services community and landlords."
Mrs. Seeley provided copies of rental inspection ordinances from Towanda, Sayre, Berwick, South Williamsport, Northumberland, Wyomissing, and Milton. She said a draft ordinance had been prepared for Council.
The visitors were asked if they had any comments. Chief May wondered if the draft had a provision authorizing the condemnation for uninhabitable properties, on a temporary basis, to be brought before Council. He said that as a fire chief he has that authority for properties that have suffered a fire but not in other cases.
Mrs. Seeley said that Code Inspections has that temporary power but does not think it can be extended to others.
Mr. Robertson said that the Police and Fire officers are "frontline soldiers" who could see situations that may render a property uninhabitable on a temporary basis - "Not to shut it down, but maybe get the ball rolling."
It was noted that the Children & Youth Services can remove children from uninhabitable properties.
Mr. Viscusi said he had concerns about granting the power to evict people. Chief May described horrible conditions he had confronted in some dwelling areas over the years.
Chief May said he was asking about structural issues that would make an apartment uninhabitable. Mr. Bastion asked about places which had no heat in the middle of winter. Chief May said that he cannot give such an order unless in case of structural damage. "I would pretty much have to release it," he said.
Mr. Jannone said, "As a Councilman, I remain opposed to any ordinance that is overreach. Our draft is excessive. I like Milton's - it is limited to health and safety issues."
Milton's ordinance calls for inspections on a three-year frequency or when there is a change in occupancy.
Mr. Jannone said he wanted to avoid getting involved in civil matters and wants to minimize government involvement.
Mr. Viscusi said, "[Chief May] already has those tools, I don't see why it would have to be put into a landlord/tenant ordinance."
Mrs. Seeley said that the Borough already has a landlord registration ordinance, but estimates only a 50% return from landlords.
Chief May said he is concerned about "hoarders" and the risks to firefighters from piles of hoardings that could collapse on them.
Mrs. Wesneski said, "There are slum landlords. If landlords don't take care of or visit their properties, how are they going to know what is going on?"
Mr. Jannone said, "The landlords are ultimately responsible, but the tenant should be responsible for damage that he causes."
Mr. Wilson discussed some situations he has dealt with Code violations. He said that in seven cases the matters were resolved "without one piece of paper being filed."
Chief May said he agrees with Mr. Jannone on the need for less government and wondered if there was a way to make landlords inspect their own properties. Mrs. Seeley replied that if landlords will not register or provide lists of their tenants, the Borough should not expect them to inspect their properties voluntarily.
Mr. Williams said that the tenant has to have some responsibility over the condition of the property. Mr. Viscusi said that face-to-face interaction is best. "The tenant should be responsible for the interior of the apartment, but the landlord for the structural issues."
Mr. Jannone suggested a joint inspection with both landlords and tenants. Mr. Bastion said there should be a baseline inspection, "I agree there is too much government control, but there are too many cases in Canton where properties are in disarray."
Mr. Viscusi replied that there are a good amount of private homes in disrepair, but Mrs. Seeley said that there is a difference between places where people live in their own properties or where they rent from others.
She said that years ago many teachers rented homes in the borough but now very few do. She said this may indicate a lack of quality rental properties in the borough.
After further discussion, the committee asked Mrs. Seeley to prepare a rental inspection ordinance based on the Milton Borough ordinance, which is less intrusive than the original draft.