May 3, 2016 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – Cumberland Township supervisors are preparing to pass a new ordinance targeting “dangerous structures” that would force property owners to make repairs or face demolition of their dilapidated buildings.

The supervisors agreed Monday afternoon to advertise the ordinance for consideration and are expected to adopt it during their next meeting June 6.

“We have a lot of empty homes that are owned by people who don’t live here and they don’t respond to our requests to make repairs or remediation of the property,” said Ann Bargerstock, the township’s code enforcement officer. “It’s just gotten out of hand. It’s ridiculous the amount of people who own buildings and do nothing with them.”

She used one vacant home in Nemacolin as an example about how years of neglect have led to dangerous conditions in the neighborhood. The interior of the house has been gutted, there’s only one good window and a workable door left, she said, and the roof is bowed in like a “half moon.”

“The house is in terrible condition and we need to take action to preserve the safety of the rest of the neighborhood,” Bargerstock said, “and this ordinance will allow us to do it.”

The township has been searching for ways in recent years to combat blight. A property maintenance ordinance already on the books allowed the township to take some measures, but it did not give them enough authority with dilapidated buildings.

Bargerstock said that many of the dilapidated buildings in the township are owned by people who don’t live in the area and have no interest keeping up on their properties or making repairs. However, Bargerstock said, the ordinance will allow any property owner to argue their case – if they show for a hearing – and provide evidence on what repairs they should or could be made.

“Most of these cases will be demolition,” Bargerstock said candidly about the amount of dilapidated structures in the township that are beyond repair. “Some of these situations will be as great of an emergency if they fall in on a neighbor.”

The ordinance would target any buildings in the township damaged by fire, wind or other factors that “fail utterly to provide the amenities essential to decent living and are unfit for human habitation.” It also focuses on dilapidated, decayed, unsafe and unsanitary buildings that could lead to accidents or disease and are dangerous to the life and safety of other residents.

Before the property owner is cited, a still to-be-determined township enforcement official, mostly likely Bargerstock, will request an engineer to inspect the building. The enforcement officer will then notify the township Board of Commissioners either in person or through correspondence that the property is deemed unsafe and whether it can be repaired or must be vacated and demolished.

The property owner must be notified in writing with an explanation of the issues and citing the timeframe for which to make repairs. If a person intends to challenge the ruling, he or she must request a hearing within 10 days and the hearing should happen no longer than 30 days after the petition was filed, according to the ordinance.

The owner faces a $600 fine for each day in which a structure is not in compliance. If the township must raze a building, it can put a lien against the property in order to collect legal fees and demolition costs, plus a 10 percent penalty.

“This will specifically allow us to have a procedure to follow step-by-step-by-step when these structures are abandoned or have fallen into disrepair,” Bargerstock said.

The full ordinance can be viewed at the township building at 100 Municipal Road near Carmichaels. The supervisors are set to meet again at the township building June 6 at 4 p.m.

Also during Monday’s meeting, Bargerstock reminded residents to keep grass trimmed so it is no longer than six inches tall or property owners could face a fine. Residents must also have weekly garbage pickup and anyone who needs the list of approved contractors can contact Bargerstock at the township building at 724-966-5805.

Supervisors Bill Groves and William Nicholson also voted to hire Jeffrey Blaker and Alex Hoy as part-time summer workers paid at $10 per hour. Robert Schiffbauer was hired at $12 per hour. The men will spend some of the time working to cut grass around abandoned structures and a lien will be placed on those properties.

The supervisors also voted to award asphalt contracts to Golden Eagle for $58 per ton for superpave, $49 for bindercourse and $75 per ton for winter mix. The oil contract to Suit-Kote for $1.14 per gallon.

Supervisor James Sokol did not attend the meeting.