If the newly created regional team has anything to say about it, the days of a single property degrading the quality of life for an entire block or neighborhood are over in South Williamsportborough.
The Council this week authorized the Susquehanna Mutual Aid Regional Team (SMART) to implement the Borough’s Property Management Regulations.
“Many people in South Williamsport are very concerned about the number of abandoned homes. This agreement will ensure that additional personnel are in a position to fix these issues. Our homeowners expect and believe they deserve to keep their neighbors’ homes in. There are many beautiful homes in South Williamsport, but just a few won’t hurt your neighborhood. ” Council President Dave Geiss said:
There are no additional rewards for building maintenance patrols for SMART members.
SMART staff assigned to Station 5, the South Williamsport Fire Department, and the Loyalsock Township Fire Department conduct daily patrols to check for tall grass and weeds, accumulated litter and debris, uninspected/unregistered vehicles, broken windows or fires. Missing, structural disrepair, condition says.
We will then contact those responsible and notify them to correct or summon and fine them. Also stated in the terms.
Autonomous Region Property Enforcement
The maintenance code will be systematic across all three wards and unprecedented compared to implementation measures.
imposed by SMART, said Steven W. Cappelli, borough administrator and director of public safety.
SMART was launched in August as a cost-effective way to supplement the South Williamsport Fire Department’s fire and emergency medical response efforts.
There are five firefighters in total — four firefighters and SMART supervisor Minnier.
Two firefighters are in the township station and two are in the borough. In the event of a fire or other medical emergency, SMART staff will be your first priority.
Minnier said SMART works well.
Borough Police will contact SMART staff to identify the property’s address.
Police have an agreement with nearby DuBoistown, but at this time SMART property maintenance patrols will not be conducted in the area, Capelli said.
Meanwhile, the City of South Williamsport received a $101,000 grant from the State Crime and Delinquency Commission to upgrade all South Williamsport police departments, cell phones, and base station radios on both analog and digital frequencies. I replaced it with a new unit that can send and receive. 18 in total. .
The current radio in the ward is 15 years old and analog only.
Finally, Cappelli reported that the SWPD K-9 program has raised more than $24,000 in funding to date, with additional pledges on the way.
“It costs $19,500 to purchase the K-9 and train its handlers. Officer Seth Strop will leave for North Carolina on Sunday to begin six weeks of handler training.” Capelli said.
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