SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - Residents from different sections of West Mahanoy Township spoke Wednesday about code and permit issues during the township supervisors' meeting.
A group of residents from the 200 block of Ohio Avenue in Shenandoah Heights attended because of people living without water in properties at 258 and 260 Ohio Ave.
"The reason that I and my entourage are here are because of the two properties on our street," resident Jennifer Grochowski said. "The water is shut off in both those homes right now."
The home at 260 Ohio Ave. has not had water service for more than two months, according to Grochowski, and the water service was shut off at 258 Ohio Ave. early Tuesday morning.
"How long is it going to take to get these people out?" Grochowski asked.
"We're going to have to post the property as unfit, let them know and then cite them for trespassing," police Chief Shawn Tray said. "I don't know if the property has been posted yet."
Chairman Paul "Pepper" Martin asked township Secretary Michael Michalik if the properties have been posted, replying that he believed the people had moved out of address 260.
"No, they didn't," Grochowski said. The other residents said that there are children in one of the properties.
"There will be an officer there in 20 minutes," Tray said.
"Get them out of there," Martin said to Tray. "Do whatever you have to do."
"We'll have someone up there," Supervisor David Lukashunas said. "Standing up for your rights is the best thing to do."
"If the water is off, they cannot stay there," Martin said.
"We did not turn a blind eye to it. I assure you," Tray said. "The landlord knows that he could be cited due to the ordinances we passed. If it's a nuisance property, the landlords are going to be cited."
Resident Sharon Piaskowski asked about the status of a property at 118 S. Wylam St., Altamont. Martin said the owner has been cited and may go to district court if the citation is not paid. Martin said that even if the citation is paid but the code violation is not corrected, additional citations will be issued.
"Every day is a separate violation," Tray said.
Resident Ann Marie Wycheck asked about the status of a dilapidated garage near her home in Altamont.
"I talked to (code enforcement officer) Marvin (Livergood) last week and told him to cite them (owner)," Martin said. "And in his report he said they were cited."
In another matter, Wycheck asked, hypothetically, about the parameters when it is necessary for a company or individual who plans to construct a building to seek permission from the township's planning commission or zoning hearing board.
"If someone owns commercial property that is zoned for industrial purposes and want to put up a commercial building, you wouldn't have to go through zoning since it is already zoned for that," solicitor Curtis Ryan Bates said. "If the area was zoned residential and want to do something outside residential, then you would have to go to zoning for a variance. However, building permits and other things would be issued depending on what the project is."
"But who grants those permits for commercial or industrial without coming before a planning committee?" Wycheck asked.
Attending the meeting was Robert Matta, solicitor for the planning commission and zoning hearing board.
"Depending on what the addition to a structure or it's a new building, there are certain restrictions that determine whether or not he needs to come before a planning commission," Matta said. "Typically, it depends on the size of the addition. There are certain purviews within a code enforcement officer duties. He can issue a permit to put a small addition onto a building, depending on the size of a structure typically within our planning and zoning ordinances and within the municipal planning code of the state."
Matta said whether someone needs to come to the planning commission on a new building will depend on its size.
Resident Evelyn Andrews asked the supervisors about the frequency of when the planning commission and zoning hearing boards must meet.
"Aren't there bylaws that they have to meet so many times a year just as you have to meet?" Andrews asked of the supervisors.
"As needed," Vice Chairperson Maryann Wishnefsky said.
"As needed," Martin said.
Responding to another question from Andrews about whether Livergood also works for the township as a part-time police officer, Martin said he does not. Michalik said Livergood's duties are zoning and code enforcement.