This Doesn't Make Sense

Clifton Heights homeowner can’t afford $6,000 fee to remove overgrown tree - Clifton Heights Borough residents have been grappling for two decades to come up with a solution for removing a large tree causing damage to a residential sidewalk in a cul-de-sac on Chester Ave. Former Deputy Code Enforcement Officer Alfred Rich said the tree, along with others lining the same street, was planted by the borough some 50 years ago for aesthetic value to compliment the then-newly bui...lt row homes. Unfortunately, the tree has created a major issue for the property owner, who is attempting to sell her home. Potential buyers want her to remove the tree, but she said she was quoted $6,000 for removal costs, which she says is too expensive after having replaced the sidewalk twice. According to the property owner, Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Tartaglia, who is also borough manager, maintained there was nothing he could do, but suggested that a reduction in the size of the front yard could be made to compensate for the lack of sidewalk. Rich said he initially raised the issue some 20 years ago to borough officials when he was deputy code enforcement officer, fearing that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Source: Chester Spirit; 9/7/2016 http://chesterspirit.com//homeowner-cant-afford-6000-fee-/

Oxford Borough Council will be discussing the point-of-sale sidewalk installation requirement tonight at 7 p.m.

Cheltenham has postponed until Sept. 28 a public hearing on proposed ordinances that would implement a system of sewer lateral inspections throughout the township. The township, which is under a consent decree by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reduce the amount of storm water entering its sewer system, is considering two ordinances that would take drastically different approaches to address the issue. The first, which would require that all properties ...in the township have their sewer lateral line inspected over an eight year period, is supported by the Suburban REALTORS Alliance (SRA). The second, which would only require sewer lateral inspections at the time of a real estate sale or deed transfer, is opposed by the SRA. Jamie Ridge, president/ceo of the SRA, said the ordinance requiring an eight year inspection timeline is exactly the type of remedy that should be a model for all southeastern PA municipalities facing similar infrastructure issues. He warned against passage of the point-of-sale ordinance, which he said will ensure the continued infiltration of fresh water into Cheltenham’s sewer system for many decades to come while making buying and selling homes in the township much more expensive and difficult. Follow the link below to read the letter sent by the SRA to township officials. https://asoft10215.accrisoft.com//Cheltenham%20Township%20 See more

Oxford Borough votes some relief from sidewalk ordinance - Enforcement of Oxford’s point-of-sale sidewalk ordinance is being put on hold pending an upcoming hearing at the Council’s August 8 meeting. Council approved advertising an amendment that removes the requirement that whenever a property is sold, sidewalks must be installed if there are currently none. Council has been debating sidewalks for years. For a time, the current ordinance went mostly unenforced, but the policy shifted in the last year. As a result, property owners buying or selling in the borough faced what could be costly improvements at closing. If the ordinance amendment is not approved, the installation requirement will go back into effect. Source: Avon Grove Sun; 6/23/2016

This does make sense: Jenkintown borough council outlined its plan for enforcing necessary curb and sidewalk replacement. Council President Deborra Sines Pancoe and Borough Manager George Locke explained the actions that would be taken to gain compliance from borough residents about performing necessary maintenance and making required repairs to their sidewalks. -Initial notification is sent out to residents informing them that they will need to make arrangements for repairs ...to be made or maintenance to be performed on the sidewalk area and curb on their property. Doing so would allow residents time to gather bids from contractors in order to obtain the best possible price for the work to be completed. -A month or so later, residents will receive an official notice that the repairs must be completed within an allocated time frame. If the work is not completed, a notice of violation will be sent to the residence. If the work has still not been completed, another notification will be sent informing them that they are in non-compliance and will be subject to a fine anywhere between $50 and $600, in accordance with the borough code. -If after a citation has been issued and the work continues to be ignored, the borough has the option of enforcing a lien in which the work will be completed by the borough and the property owner will be responsible for the costs incurred by the borough plus an additional 10 percent. http://montgomerynews.com//n/doc55dd4a2076ece343891113.txt