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A property management professional urges City Council to tighten the rules.
WILKES-BARRE – Dan Lavery offered City Council a plan Thursday to crack down on absentee “non-conforming” landlords.
Lavery lives on Park Avenue and works for McDermott & McDermott, a property management company. He said he represents more than 100 rental units owned by out-of-town landlords who all purchase the necessary licenses and perform the required inspections.
There are far too many absentee landlords that don’t follow the rules, he said, and he would like to see a long-term solution. He said he speaks to 10-20 prospective tenants daily who are looking to live locally.
“When I ask them where they would like to live, a solid 25 percent answer with ‘anywhere but Wilkes-Barre,’ ” Lavery said. “Don’t misinterpret my motive; it’s not because it limits my ability to generate income. It’s because I grew up here, and today I can’t say I disagree with their concerns.”
Lavery said the city needs to set stiff fines and make them escalating if possible. He said all property managers and their properties need to be recorded at City Hall before any licenses or inspections are issued.
He also said job descriptions for code officers should be reviewed and their areas of responsibility should be more defined. Once the revisions are made, the city should notify district magisterial judges and law enforcement of the changes, he said.
In other business, City Council approved an ordinance on first reading that would place names on four streets that will be a part of the new Murray Courtright housing project. The names that must pass through a public review before being adopted are: Atkins Lane, McGowan Street, Morris Lane and Silk Mill Lane.
Tow truck operator Bob Kadluboski again addressed council about his concerns about fees being charged by the city’s current contracted towing company, LAG Towing. Kadluboski asked council to review the charges because he said he feels people are being overcharged.
Kadluboski exhausted the five-minute time limit and asked for more time. His request was denied and when he tried to continue talking, Council Chairwoman Kathy Kane asked for a motion and second to adjourn the meeting and council voted to end it.
Council approved the sale of two building lots to Ben Walker, 51, a retired state trooper. The lots are at the corner of Hickory Street and Columbus Avenue in the city’s Iron Triangle section. Walker paid $8,000 for the lots in 1990, but the company he bought them from – Blue Ridge Construction – went bankrupt, and he lost his investment.
The building lots, located behind the Turkey Hill store near Hazle Avenue, were eventually sold to the city by the bankrupt developer for $300 per lot. Walker asked to purchase the lots at the same price and council approved the request.