ALLENTOWN – Borough Council members will seek a candidate to work four hours per week in a support position to assist Allentown’s code enforcement officer.
Joseph McGrath works two hours per day, two days per week, as the code enforcement officer. He has specifically been directed by Mayor Greg Westfall and the council to pursue solutions regarding vacant and abandoned homes and properties in town.
At recent meetings, McGrath has reported that certain administrative tasks linked to that directive consume much of his time on the job.
During the council’s Oct. 10 meeting, members of the governing body voted 6-0 to hire an individual to assist McGrath.
Councilman Thomas Fritts said, “In looking at our code enforcement, housing and zoning issues, we want to work smarter. We have not been able to collect all of the data we need. Mr. McGrath is requesting four hours per week of administrative support. We think we should give this a try through the rest of the year.”
Council President Wil Borkowski said municipal officials will evaluate the support position after it has been filled and determine if they want to maintain that position during 2018.
In other business, the council made several changes to the Allentown Environmental Commission.
Officials announced that Jessica Fitzgerald, who was appointed to the commission on Feb. 14 as alternate No. 1 for a term that ran through Dec. 31, resigned from the panel on Sept. 22.
Janice Buchalski, who was appointed to the commission on Feb. 14 as alternate No. 2 for a term expiring on Dec. 31, was moved to the alternate No. 1 position replacing Fitzgerald.
Peter Russo was appointed to the commission on Oct. 10 as alternate No. 2.
And, officials passed a resolution approving the submission of a grant application to and the execution of a grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for planned improvements to Pondview Drive. No timetable for the construction of the improvements was provided in the resolution.