Oct 14, 2016 3 min read

Landlord Robert Cain addressed Charleroi Borough Council Thursday in an effort to avoid a six-month rental license suspension on his property.

“I own 30 properties, and I give background checks to all of my tenants. I take care of my properties,” Cain said.

Cain was notified about the proposed six-month rental suspension after a second incident at one of his properties. The borough has an ordinance in place for nuisance landlords. Officials said there were numerous police calls to Cain’s rental property on Fallowfield Avenue, and the tenant’s daughter was the victim of a shooting there last month.

Cain told council that he was not aware of repeat police complaints about activity at the property.

“I tried to evict the tenant, but she said that she would sue me and the borough since she was the victim,” Cain said. “I evicted her instead on a previous judgment. She wants to move for the safety of her family.”

Cain added that if the borough suspended his rental license and his property was vacant for longer than 30 days, his insurance company would drop his coverage.

“What would happen to the property if it were left vacant for six months?” he asked.

Council went into executive session, returned and continued the meeting. Council read a motion to authorize the six-month suspension of Cain’s rental license, but no one on council seconded the move, and the motion died. Council President Paul Pivovarnik said Cain did the right thing, but he wants the landlords of Charleroi to know that the borough is taking issues with rental properties seriously.

“We have an ordinance, and two strikes you’re out,” he said.

In another matter, Linda Stennett, president of the John K. Tener Library Board of Directors, approached council about a comment made by Councilman Frank Paterra at the recent Multi Municipal Consortium. Paterra said that with the possible $50,000 increase in the borough’s annual contribution for Charleroi Regional Police Force, cuts will have to be made, including a reduction of the borough’s contribution to the library.

The borough’s current contribution to Charleroi Regional Police Force is $506,000. Council has not been notified of next year’s contribution, but Paterra estimates there could be an increase of $50,000.

“It is not personal against the library,” he said. “We will have to make cuts across the board.”

The borough currently contributes $3,500 annually to the library.

Stennett said, “We provide many services. We are the only printing and fax service in the community. I walked in the library last week and found the director helping someone looking for a job and with their resume. We contribute to the community. We have to beg, fundraise, and are always short of our budget.”

Council will be discussing the budget at the next work session.

In other action:

• Council approved a donation box to be placed at the borough building to collect toys for the 12 days of Love First Holidays.

• Council accepted the resignation of code enforcement officer Michele Harris, effective Nov. 30.

• Council approved the trimming of 72 trees by Joe’s Tree Service at a cost of $5,000.

• Council established a flat fee of $500 for sale of borough-owned tax-delinquent parcels.

• Council waived taxes due on the former Atlas building so it can be demolished.