Renovo’s 14th Street Residents Get Court Stay
LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County Judge Michael Salisbury has determined that Renovo Borough erred in its handling of a condemnation notice for residents of the borough’s 14th Street row houses. The court directive, filed on Thursday, means the 20-day clock to vacate for affected residents has been put on hold.
The court order remanded the issue back to the borough for any follow-up action.
Eleven 14th Street residents, occupying nine housing units, had gone into court on Tuesday of this week, seeking a stay of the condemnation notice. Through a court filing from their attorney, Rocco Rosamilia, they disputed the action of the borough’s property maintenance manager, claiming the findings of Victor Marquardt were “not specific and without any basis.” They directed their filing at the unnamed owner of the building section at 155 14th Street, stating they are without any remedy and cannot control the actions of the owner of that row home unit; they want Renovo borough to “take immediate action to remedy the emergency issues, such as the collapse of 155 14th Street.”
Signatories to the appeal reside in units from 133 14th Street to 163 14th Street.
The court order cited the International Property Maintenance Code and said the borough’s right of appeal notice dated Sept. 16 was in conflict with that code relative to a board of appeals; the borough has no such board. It is understood, therefore, the action the borough took did not abide by the section of the IPMC law which directs (as the court wrote) “a board of appeals consist of not less than three members who are qualified by experience and training to pass on matters pertaining to property maintenance and who are not employees of the jurisdiction.”
Appellant filing parties in the action were Michael and Brenda Hand and Nancy Moriarty. Eight other row house residents verified their participation in the appeal.
