CURWENSVILLE – During public comment at Monday’s Curwensville Borough Council meeting, discussion between council and a local property owner became a little heated when discussing properties condemned by the borough.
The discussion began with another resident asking about a property on Bloomington Avenue her son had agreed to rent, only to find at the beginning of the month a notice stating the property was condemned.
Council Member and Code Enforcement Officer Tom Carfley said the trailer was condemned 11 years ago by Butch Auber and the owner isn’t supposed to be in it or rent it.
The property owner, Matt Rowles, then entered and joined the discussion. He said he has been using that address as his home address and didn’t know it was condemned. Carfley replied that he was told two years ago about the condemnation.
Carfley also accused Rowles of taking people into other properties that were condemned, including the former Branding Iron restaurant.
Rowles replied that he had people interested in purchasing the property and he took them to see it. He added that he has been getting mixed messages, one person says that he can enter the properties while someone else says he can’t with Carfley replying that he isn’t to go into any condemned building.
Council President Sara Curulla then interjected, saying that the Branding Iron is full of mold, which Rowles denied, adding that he would gladly take her and any other council member inside to look.
“I’m not forfeiting my ownership of these buildings,” Rowles said, adding that he has been trying to get things fixed up and to support the community and help.
Rowles has purchased multiple properties in the borough with the intention of eventually repairing them and renting them, including properties on Bloomington Avenue, the Branding Iron and the old Spinelli Ford building.
Carfley said he has bought them, but never did anything with them, which Rowles denied.
Council told him he needed to attend the blighted properties committee meeting being held Tuesday night for more information.
In another matter, Rowles said he is looking into starting a concert series in Curwensville similar to the one held in Clearfield on Friday nights in the summer.
He asked what he needed to do, and council suggested he submit a written plan to the borough and also talk to the neighbors to get their input and council would look into it.