Greensburg hopes to give expanded powers to code enforcement officer

Greensburg council is considering two bills that would add some teeth when it comes to addressing abandoned properties.

One would tap into state Act 90, the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act of 2010. If enacted, that would allow city officials the ability to deny permit applications to a property owner if their buildings have serious code violations, said solicitor Zachary Kansler.

The law also gives municipalities the ability to lien the personal assets of the owner of a property that is a public nuisance or deny permits, such as building or zoning, if they’re behind on taxes or municipal service payments, according to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

“We want to give our code enforcement officer the tools to deal with property owners who refuse to address the issues with a property,” said Councilman Greg Mertz.

It can turn into a cycle, he said, that city officials are hoping to stop. Mayor Robb Bell agreed that they see people who want to buy more properties when their existing buildings are not in good shape.

“It’s like no, you’re not going to do that until you fix that property,” he said. “It gives us a little more authority to stop this land grabbing and then never doing anything with these properties. Because it’s creating a problem.”

The second bill being considered would create a robust process for the city to demolish dilapidated buildings and then lien the property, Kansler said. Property owners targeted under the proposed ordinance would get notices prior to any demolition.

“It’s certainly needed, it gives us a more definite process to cite a property owner, order them to abate a nuisance and if they fail to do so, to do it for them,” he said.

Both bills are expected to be introduced during Monday’s council meeting at 6 p.m. in city hall.