FRACKVILLE — Using existing ordinances, the Frackville Borough Council plans to deal with, in a more coordinated effort, the problem of abandoned and unlicensed vehicles parked on streets and private properties.
The borough council received a report at Wednesday’s meeting from borough solicitor Mark Semanchik on what the initial tasks in better enforcement of ordinances.
“There was a question on the floor at last month’s meeting with regard to trying to address what is perceived to be a problem in town involving junk and abandoned vehicles on our streets and in various private properties,” Semanchik said. “As a follow-up, I was approached to see if I could work with two part-time police officers to do a townwide inspection utilizing our existing ordinances and develop lists and classifications for the various violations and then come up with a plan of how to effectively, timely and inexpensively enforce and address these problems.”
Semanchik said he spoke with acting Police Chief Marvin Livergood and would speak with the two officers selected and come up with a game plan.
“He (Livergood) is looking at doing it one day with one officer going on the east side of town and the other on the west side,” Semanchik said. “They would have check-off sheets to classify, organize and effectively move forward to deal with it.”
Resident Judy Ragazinsky spoke during the public portion and asked about vehicles on private property.
“Would this entail all private property?” Ragazinsky asked, which Semanchik said that it would.
Ragazinsky knows of some properties with vehicles and wants to speak with the officer who will be reviewing the west side of the borough.
“We’re trying to do this as quickly as possible using officers all in the same day,” Councilman Charles Berger said, recommending she talk to Mayor Kim Phillips before the officers are due to patrol to discuss locations.
Resident Amy Dower also spoke on abandoned vehicles, stating she talked with police officers about abandoned and unlicensed vehicles behind her property, in some cases where some vehicles are blocking access to an alley.
“I thought we had to leave the alleyway open,” Dower said. “I didn’t know we can block the alley. And I didn’t know we could just park anything we wanted. I thought there were rules and laws that have to be followed.”
Berger said, “Our goal is to eliminate those vehicles.”
“That’s why the chief asked me to get involved to try to give some guidance so we can come up with some general classifications,” Semanchik said. “Is it an abandoned vehicle? Is it an illegally parked vehicle? Is it an abandoned vehicle on private property?”
“We’re taking the steps to straighten this out,” Berger said. “There are a lot of abandoned vehicles that need to be addressed. Abandoned vehicles could cause major problems, such as high grass and the potential for dangerous situations.”
“We trying to clarify the whole thing,” Semanchik added. “Over the years different ordinances have been adopted at different times trying to address specific situations. So, rather than adopt more ordinances, we’re trying to use what we have to address these things as quickly as we can.”
“Or eliminate the ones (ordinances) that don’t make sense,” Berger said.
In another matter, resident Mary Teijaro complained about a property on the 300 block of South Middle Street that has high grass, skunks, wild cats and mice that needs to be corrected. The house is vacant with the owner living out of state. The borough will look at the property and if there is no action by the owner within 10 days, borough workers may clean up the property to correct the problems. In these situations, the owner is billed for the work.
The meeting began with the presentation of a check from Boyer’s Food Markets in Frackville as a donation to the Frackville Pool Committee in its efforts to construct a new community swimming pool, which will replace the current pool that is closed due to structural problems.
The store’s Red Shirt Service Manager Mikki Kaufman presented the $577 donation to Councilwoman Karen Domalakes, who heads the pool committee and is chairwoman of the council’s Recreation Committee. The funds were raised by store employees over the past year through dress-down days on Fridays, with each donating $1 each time blue jeans were worn.
Domalakes presented a certificate of appreciation for the contribution and announced the pool project has raised more than $20,000.
In a related matter, North Schuylkill students Emily Osilka and Gena Williams spoke to the council requesting permission to hold a softball tournament on Aug. 13 and 14 to raise money for the pool effort. The tournament would be their senior community project. They said the dates have been checked to avoid any scheduling conflicts with other groups who use the field. The council approved the request.
During his monthly report, health officer Ronald Liem announced his resignation, effective July 28.
“I’m sad about this,” Phillips said. “You’ve done an excellent job.”
“You’ve been doing a good job with some of the projects I’ve been on with you,” Berger said. “I’d like to see you stay on.”
The borough council accepted Liem’s resignation. Anyone interested in being considered for the position should contact borough hall.
As a follow-up to a discussion at the May meeting, the borough council approved the lease purchase of a new Ford SUV all-wheel-drive police vehicle from Kovatch Ford Inc., Nesquehoning, through Community Leasing Partners, Manhattan, Kansas. Semanchik explained the agreement, which has a five-year term at 4.11 percent interest. Total cost is $38,057.16, with annual payments of $8,576.17. There is no down payment, and the first annual payment is due one year after closing.
In her recreation committee report, Domalakes said the annual fireworks display will be held July 3 at dusk at the High Street Little League Complex. The farmers market has begun, being held on Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lehigh Avenue and Frack Street — near Wells Fargo Bank.
Domalakes said the free summer lunch program began June 7 at Memorial Park. She said the large number of children attending outstripped the supply of lunches that were planned. More lunches are being supplied to meet the demand.
The next recreation board activity is the townwide yard sale on July 9. Times are set by homeowners for the rain or shine event.
During the solicitor’s report, Semanchik said the last day of Livergood serving as acting chief of police was June 8. Semanchik said Livergood offered to extend his services to the next council meeting, which is July 13. The borough council accepted keeping Livergood as acting chief until the next meeting. Livergood is leaving the position after being hired as West Mahanoy Township police chief.
Local realtor Helen Miernicki updated the council on the grant from the National Association of Realtors for additions to the playground near the municipal building. She said the chess table and chairs are ready to be assembled by borough employees, and the bongo drums will arrive shortly. She also showed the homemade mini-library box made by her grandson, Eric Miernicki. She said the box is made of cedar and a post will be donated by borough Public Works Director Donald Zimmerman. The outdoor mini-library will hold books for people to borrow to bring back or replace with another book.
Miernicki asked the council to approve a 10-hour community service project by her grandson, Ethan Miernicki, who plans to stain the bench and picnic table at the same park. The council voted in favor of the request.
In other business, the borough council:
• Reinstated part-time borough worker Shawn Jessman as of May 31 at his former rate of $10.40 per hour.
• Hired Paul R. Martin III and David Zane Gricoski as part-time summer employees at $8.50 per hour as needed.