Unity supervisors are looking to step up enforcement of the township’s building and property ordinance to clean up unkempt parcels causing blight in some neighborhoods.

The supervisors at their March meeting are expected to consider an ordinance amendment that would allow code enforcement staff to cite and fine property owners for infractions like accumulating trash or failing to keep grass trimmed.

A public hearing will be scheduled before any changes are made to the ordinance.

Solicitor Gary Falatovich suggested assessing a $50 fine and providing a deadline, on a per-case basis, for the property owner to address the problem. He said notice of the violation could be placed on the door of the property in question or mailed to the owner. If the owner doesn’t comply, the township could then pursue the existing option of filing a complaint with the local district judge.

“Some of our oldest communities that actually made Unity Township what it is today, our old coal mining towns, I think a lot of them need cleaned up,” said Supervisor Michael O’Barto. “I think it’s time we do something.”

“A lot of these things might be able to just be cleaned up with an automatic $50 penalty, just to get people’s attention, instead of having to go through the notification process, go to the district justice and haul people in later on. This would get their attention.”

Township officials noted there is a high incidence of repeat offenders who violate the building and property ordinance.

Supervisors also authorized Falatovich to advertise a proposed amendment to the township road ordinance that would prohibit property owners from allowing storm water to flow onto public roads.

“In many of the areas out here, there aren’t storm water management systems,” he said. “People are just discharging water from storm drains or roof drains directly onto the roads and, when you get into the winter months, it creates ice patches and makes it difficult for people to get around.”

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