BY CAROL MOSLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
BROOKER — As Brooker Town Council members arrived for the April 11 meeting, Clerk Suzanne McCree set up the connection to the new “virtual meeting” equipment.
The new connection will allow attorney John Maines, and others, to attend remotely. The equipment was purchased with federal ARPA funds for $6,400. Launch of the new website rounded out the tech improvements for the month.
Other ARPA funds purchased a new see-saw and merry-go-round, both now in place in the expanded playground. Bradford County Road Department provided fill dirt and labor, which was greatly appreciated by the council and “eagle-eye” Bookkeeper Charlene Thomas. It was voted to approve spending $1,000 for tree removal that is at risk of damaging the new playground fence.
Approximately $44,000 remains of ARPA funds. The council voted to set aside $10,000 for emergency expenses before the fund is depleted.
Code enforcement explains process
The Brooker Town Council meeting on had a visit from Corp. Glen Ward. He was there to lay out the details of what to expect now that the code enforcement policy has been updated and a magistrate secured to make final decisions on compliance cases.
Ward’s first order of business was to make it clear that code enforcement is not “driving around looking for cases to pursue.” They have limited resources available with 53 cases to investigate and 10 more received that very day. But, he said there are serious issues to address, and if they receive a complaint, they have no choice but to investigate it.
Some of the primary concerns are people living in sheds, or living in campers beyond a limited period of time. Some campers have pulled permits intending to build a home but have made no progress after years. Extreme cases have found raw sewage dumped on the ground.
Other problems include overweight trucks tearing up the roads by carrying 80-90,000 pounds when rated for 50,000. Old cars rusting away on lots pose a potential hazard as well as being unsightly. Even overgrown lawns and untended property, whether vacant or occupied, could cause a neighbor to complain.
But, Ward said if people are making a real effort to clean up their cited property, the county could even help by giving permission to take extra loads to the dump beyond the current allotment.
The first civil action might be a door hanger as a Notice of Complaint, which would trigger a 15 day clock for showing attempt at compliance, and then a letter being sent demanding action be taken to resolve the matter. After 30 days of inaction a formal Notice of Violation Citation would be issued, beginning the civil legal process.
The fees imposed vary, from $10-$50 per day for an overgrown lawn to as high as $100-$500 per day for more dire violations. The county issued decibel meters to document noise complaints, which carries a fine of $58 for a first offense. Failure to pay fines imposed is a serious matter. If the magistrate deems the homeowner to be guilty, the county could place a lien on the home for collection of the fines.
