Borough briefs

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
Council accepts housing plan
   The Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday to endorse the 2009 Annual Plan for Public Housing Assistance for funds to benefit those in Section 8 housing.
   Councilman Ken Otrimski was not present at the meeting.
   According to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke, the Section 8 housing is reserved for those in need of rental assistance, mostly disabled senior citizens. He said the funds in the plan go toward offsetting rental housing costs for apartments.
   In Manville, Mr. Garwacke said, there about 80 apartments used for Section 8 housing.
   ”The funds go to the landlords,” Mr. Garwacke said. He said the plan allows for the balance, left after the resident pays what he or she can afford for rent, to go to the landlord.
   This plan, Mr. Garwacke said, is approved by the borough each year, and is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Burris tapped for rec committee
   The Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution to appoint Joseph Burris to the Recreation Committee.
   Mr. Burris will serve a five-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2011.
Façade grant applications sought
   Applications for the 2008 Façade Improvement Program are currently available in the municipal building for those business owners looking for funds to make changes.
   Gary Garwacke, borough administrator, said the borough received $75,000 from the county’s Economic Development Incentive Program, to be divided among businesses that apply for grant money and are approved.
   Those businesses that are approved, he said, will be awarded up to 50 percent of the money spent on the actual improvements.
   The application requires business owners to detail the project, costs and other aspects, before the borough can decide if the business should receive funds. If approved, businesses will be required to pay in full for the improvements, then submit proof of payment, in order to receive the grant funds.
   Applications are due back to the borough by Dec. 1.
Borough tends unmaintained lawns
   During Monday’s Borough Council meeting, Councilman Steve Szabo announced that between 175 and 200 summonses were recently issued to homes around the borough because of high grass and weeds that is required by town ordinance to be cut once it reaches a certain height.
   Once the summonses were issued, Mr. Szabo said, only eight homes received second summonses before it was determined that the properties are vacant.
   ”The eight properties have liens on them,” Mr. Szabo said. “We don’t know who owns them.”
   Mr. Szabo said that the borough’s next step will be to find the owners of the homes, or the banks that owns them, to pay for the work to be done.
   In addition, Mr. Szabo announced that about 135 homes, owned by senior citizens in town, will need snow removal, but the borough cannot be responsible for paying for the work at all these homes.