CLEARFIELD – Last night, the Lawrence Township Supervisors passed a resolution to enact the Alternative Dispute Resolution Ordinance, or more simply the Code Ticketing Ordinance.
Code Enforcement Officer Debra Finkbeiner explained it will allow the township to enforce ordinances and codes by issuing tickets for violations, similar to those for traffic violations. Previously, Finkbeiner said, any violations required issuance of citations with drawn-out, expensive legal action and court hearings.
The ordinance allows duly sworn public officers, including police officers and code enforcement officers, to uphold and enforce the township ordinances and codes. Tickets may be issued to a violator in person, to an adult member of a household, an agent or representative in a place of business; may be posted at the property where the violation exists or may be mailed.
Citizens have the right to dispute a ticket. Each day a violation continues could lead to additional offenses and fines. As well, failure to pay tickets within 10 days could result in criminal citation. The township also has the right to correct or abate any violation that is considered a danger to the health and safety of the community, and costs incurred would be charged to the party in violation.
Finkbeiner said the ordinance will make it much easier to enforce township codes, and will be a huge savings in legal costs.
In related business, Supervisor Ed Brown announced that the township is nearing the completion of Sewage Project Phase III.
Brown said that, with 98 percent of the township’s sewage collection lines replaced in Hyde, there are still issues causing overflows in the Clearfield Municipal Authority’s sewage system. These issues, he said, are resulting in costly fines from the state Department of Environmental Protection. He added that this means there are roofs, stormwater or sump pumps that are infiltrating the sewage collection system.
Brown said the township and CMA have spent more than 5 years fixing this problem. “The improvements made are big,” he said. “The township must enforce the law,” he added, noting that there will be no grace in correcting any violations.
He said the township and CMA will be installing flow meters to isolate problem areas, and will continue with camera inspections, and smoke and dye testing.
Finkbeiner reported that there are 70 to 75 residential sewage inspections that have not been scheduled. She said notices have been posted on residences that have not been inspected.
Supervisor Bill Lawhead said the township can assess fines for non-compliance for inspections, and that the township can procure court orders to gain access for testing.
Brown said anyone who has infiltration of stormwater or drainage into the sewage collection system should make every effort to have it corrected, because fines for violations will be substantial.