By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Stockton Borough would have increased enforcement power over the maintenance of properties in town if a proposed ordinance is adopted by Borough Council.
The ordinance was introduced by council at its Nov. 10 meeting and is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption vote at the council’s meeting on Monday, Dec. 8. A public hearing will precede the vote on adoption.
Borough Clerk Michele Hovan said the proposed ordinance, on which the council has been working for several months, would allow the borough to "exercise greater enforcement ability on the maintenance of properties that are in foreclosure."
Ms. Hovan said that a key intent of the ordinance, which also covers property not in foreclosure, "is to give us a tool to work with banks with on trying to keep foreclosed properties in satisfactory condition."
The lengthy proposed ordinance says it is unlawful for property owners to allow their properties to become a "a public nuisance" and imposes penalties for failure to correct the problems.
Among the many types of "public nuisances" listed in the ordinance are properties:
Considered "attractive" to children due to "abandoned wells, shafts, basements, excavations and unsafe fences or structures;"
Obviously capable of being a fire hazard;
Unsanitary or that is littered with rubbish or garbage or that has an uncontrolled growth of weeds, and
Considered "in a state of dilapidation."
The proposed ordinance, copies of which are available at borough hall, also requires that all properties have grading and drainage facilities that prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, be kept free from rat infestation, and discharge storm water from a roof in a manner that is a public nuisance. Driveways and sidewalks must be kept in "a proper state of repair" under the proposed ordinance.
A property owner would be given 30 days, from the date of a notice of violation of the ordinance from the borough zoning officer, to correct the violation. If the condition is considered an imminent threat to public safety, they would be given 10 days to correct it. If the offending condition is not corrected before the 30- or 10-day deadline is reached, the property owner could be fined from $50 to $500. The borough would have the option of imposing a separate fine on the owner for every day the violation exists.
The proposed ordinance requires any creditor, which in most cases would be a bank, who has foreclosed on a residential property to follow all the requirements of the ordinance. Out-of-state creditors are required to appoint an in-state representative whose responsibility it would be to ensure proper maintenance of the properties.
Creditors whose foreclosed properties are in violation of the ordinance would be subject to a fine of $1,500 for each day the violation exists. An out-of-state creditor who fails to appoint an in-state representative would be subject to a fine of $2,500 for each day of the violation.

