In an effort to continue to remove blighted properties from neighborhoods, city codes enforcement officials are planning to ask city district judges to impose a maximum $1,000-per-code violation on absentee landlords and property owners who have not complied with numerous warnings.
City Codes Administrator Joseph Gerardi and Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said 61 citations will be given to District Judges James G. Carn and Allen P. Page III.
As of Wednesday, codes recorded 10 property owners on the blighted property list who remained in violation.
"We're asking for the maximum fine allowable," Campana said. That's potentially $61,000 in revenue," he said at his office to explain the status of Operation Pride, an initiative began last year to clear away blight.
The landlords and their properties were identified as: Dean Miller, 417 High St., four citations; Barry Zarzyczny, 415 High St., six citations; Gary and Cindy Weaver, 686-688 First St., six citations; JoAnne Carson, 659 E. Third St., six citations; Barry Eck, 720 Grace St. and 711 E. Third St., seven citations; Jane Eck, 920 Vine Ave., six citations; Barry Davis, 621 Walnut St., five citations; Jeffrey A. Kuzio, 1151 Meade St., seven citations; Terry Mantle, 832 Funston Ave., seven citations; and Adam Grimes, 410 High St., seven citations.
Campana and Gerardi view the penalties as incentive and a way to get property owners and landlords who have allowed their properties to languish without repairs for years to either sell them or make repairs.
The city sent letters to 40 property owners, 30 of whom who have repaired properties or intend to sell them, Gerardi said.
In the letter, the landlords and property owners were informed today is the deadline to contact codes officers.
