Oct 21, 2022
LOCK HAVEN — Vacant properties could be required to register with Lock Haven City government.
City council reviewed a potential ordinance regarding a vacant properties registry during its meeting this week.
The ordinance was something council unanimously requested earlier in 2022, City Manager Gregory Wilson said.
The ordinance, which could go into affect in February 2023 — following the first quarter –would require property owners to register if the property remains vacant for more than 90 days.
Wilson noted the time frame given allows the city time to hire a property maintenance officer. A part-time property maintenance officer has been budgeted in both 2021 and 2022. Wilson said it will also be budgeted into 2023.
“It will be in there as a ‘holding place’ estimate. It won’t likely reflect the actual wage to be paid, but more than that to help cover the costs of hiring, training, testing,” he said.
Wilson further explained he is taking into consideration the position being full-time “so that the person can be trained as both the property maintenance officer and begin to get their credentials and training to become the city’s building code official when the current BCO retires.”
“It really depends on finding the right candidate whether it would be a part-time or potentially be a full-time position,” he said.
The officer would focus mainly on this ordinance.
“That is the individual who would basically enforce this ordinance,” Wilson said. “This ordinance also provides for annual fees for those vacant properties because of the work the property maintenance officer would have to do in making sure those properties don’t have violations.”
The fees were included to offset the cost of the officer, he said.
A breakdown of the potential fees goes like this:
— $100 less than one year vacant.
— $250 for one year vacant.
— $500 for two years vacant.
— $1,000 for 3 to 4 years vacant.
— $2,500 for 5 to 9 years vacant.
— $5,000 for 10 years vacant.
An additional $500 would be applied for every year of vacancy beyond 10 years, the ordinance states, with 2023 considered year one for buildings that require registration.
Wilson said he modeled the fees after Monaca, Pa.’s ordinance. Monaca is a Western Pennsylvania borough located about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh with a population of over 5,000.
“The major difference between the proposed ordinance and the Monaca ordinance … is the charges and fees,” Wilson said. “Monaca’s fees are significantly higher than what are listed here. For example, in year two in Monaca that is $1,000. All of the fees are well under half of what it charges.”
Wilson said nearby Lewisburg also has a vacant property registry, but noted it is more complex.
“This is the least complex, least complicated which is likely the best place to start,” he said.
The proposed ordinance still needs to go to the city’s solicitor, Justin Houser, for a final read through and includes a list of definitions along with details regarding the registration process and required maintenance.
Wilson added that property owners who are actively maintaining a vacant property and looking for occupants may apply to council for a fee waiver.
“Under the fee schedule there is a waiver of fees. Anyone who actually is making a good faith effort and keeping the property in compliance can apply to council for a waiver of those fees,” he said. “Even if you are in the fifth year … if you are actually taking care of your property, council could review that and waive the fee entirely.”
According to Wilson, the fees are included due to the work the property maintenance officer would be expected to do in keeping vacant properties compliant.
“I think it is absolutely legitimate that the longer a building sits vacant, the more likely it is the cost of enforcement (that) is increasing,” he said. Wilson acknowledged there are property owners who are making efforts with upkeep of vacant properties.
“But I think there are plenty of people who may try that (waiver) if their building has been vacant for five or more years that probably couldn’t justify that fee waiver to council,” he said.
Wilson said a FAQ will be available on the city’s website — www.lockhavenpa.gov — for residents to view prior to any potential adoption of the ordinance.
“If anyone else has questions, especially members of the public, they can email me at [email protected],” he said. “Any of those questions will be listed on the city’s website along with answers. So if you have a similar question you can hopefully find the answer there.”
Mayor Joel Long noted that passing the ordinance would only put it into the second-reading stage.
“It’ll give people time to read it and have questions answered,” he said.
“And Justin is going to look at it in the meantime to tighten it up,” Councilmember Barb Masorti added.
Wilson added that, if any substantive changes are made, the ordinance could go back to first reading to give the public more time to review it.
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