Palmer Proposes Ordinance to Battle Blight

Go around Palmer Township and you will see sights that are making some residents sick.

You will see high weeds, maintenance issues and some unkempt and vacant properties that are sticking out like eyesores.

Township officials are now saying enough is enough.

The Board of Supervisors has asked for a draft of a property maintenance ordinance that will allow officials to go after owners who are letting their properties turn into eyesores.

"We're putting teeth into the ordinance so we can go after the property owners and recoup costs," Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver said.

Colver stated that there are a number of properties in Palmer that are in disrepair or abandoned or where owners are not keeping up with them.

"Some have holes in the roof and gutters, high weeds and garbage," Colver said. "We have a handful of them."

The township usually pays contractors to cut grass at some properties to spruce them up, but those expenses are never recovered. The ordinance will help with that, Colver said.

"We notify the owners. We cut the grass and weeds," Colver said. "The township pays. The chance of us getting the money back is slim and none."

Colver said the ordinance is being modeled after a similar one in Easton and that the issue will be discussed at a seminar in Reading next month since property eyesores and enforcement are becoming more widespread across the state.

Colver said an ordinance draft will go to the planning commission first before coming to supervisors for a public hearing. He hopes to have the ordinance in place by the end of the year.