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GIRARD -- City councilmembers have been working with the city's zoning department to crack down on owners of vacant structures who should be registering those properties with the city.
Third Ward Councilwoman Fran Wilson told council Monday city zoning law contains an ordinance that states owners of vacant structures will receive written or verbal warnings in the coming weeks that they must file registration for the structures with the zoning department.
The guidelines state anyone who fails to file registration or update the registration for the structure will be subject to a $50 administrative fine per day with a maximum penalty of $1,000.
"There are a lot of residents who may not know this. We are looking at an implentation plan for this. The citizens need to know if they have a vacant property out there, we will be looking at you. You will be given a warning first since we just found this," Wilson said.
Wilson said the ordinance will be enforced shortly after forms begin to be filled out by the property owners. She said the zoning department also will be enforcing commercial properties.
Those who do not fill out forms will be in violation and face fines.
She said the situation with vacant properties exists in other parts of the county.
Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio said members of the zoning committee have looked at the ordinance and both vacant residential and commercial properties throughout the city.
Also Monday, council reviewed city finances and requested legislation be prepared for the Feb. 11 meeting on how income tax and funds from the speed cameras will be dispersed in 2019.
Councilman-at-Large John Moliterno told council the city ended 2018 with $3,558,901, which is $206,549 more than in 2017.
Auditor Sam Zirafi said the only fund that was in the negative at the end of 2018 was the cemetery fund because of a $40,000 retaining wall built last year.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com