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"We've had lengthy discussions on gas stations or tire changing facilities or whatever that have gone above and beyond the duty of taking a business into what turns out to be a junk yard," Councilwoman Diane Bernardo said Monday. "I think we all understand if you own a vehicle place you want to take the parts from vehicles. However, our commercial district ordinance says all dismantled vehicles or similar articles are to be stored within a building."
Council members said they are aware of businesses on DuBois Street, McCracken Run Road, Beaver Drive and Park Avenue that are in violation of the ordinance.
"I bet if you look at any body shop in DuBois you're going to find out they're in non-compliance," Councilman Randy Schmidt said.
Bernardo said she doesn't think the situation is too far out of control to get a handle on it.
"I'm all pro-business, but I'm definitely pro-neighborhood," Bernardo said. "When you go past these places and you see the cars growing and growing and growing to become a junk yard, you know it decreases the property values all around it."
Solicitor Toni Cherry said it may be as simple as the businesses not being aware of the ordinance. She suggested writing letters asking them to come into compliance within a certain period of time or face penalties.
"It has to be fenced in because it says repair work is not to be performed outdoors and any of the parts or disbanded vehicles aren't to be outside," Cherry said. "It may be something as simple as writing these businesses a letter pointing out what the ordinance provides and asking them if they realize they are in violation and suggesting they come in compliance by doing X, Y and Z."
After discussing the ordinance, Bernardo proposed changes to the nuisance vehicle ordinance.
"We have had lengthy discussions amongst ourselves and with Officer (Brian) Lockwood, who is our code enforcement and police officer," she said. "Our ordinance as it is written has made it a bit difficult for our law enforcement to carry out the ordinance as we would like to see it carried out."
Bernardo proposed amending the ordinance to make it illegal for people to have nuisance vehicles on private grounds, open public grounds or streets and alleys. The existing ordinance only says on "private grounds."
Bernardo also proposed modifying the section defining motor vehicle nuisances so that any motor vehicle unable to move under its own power or that is left for such a period of time or in such circumstances that it seems like it has been abandoned.
Ultimately, a vehicle would be considered abandoned if it lacks a valid inspection and registration sticker.
The changes regarding nuisance vehicles were tabled until the council reviews them.
