Ford City Councilwoman Kim Bish (middle) made the motion to begin the process of eliminating the local Board of Health and requesting authority by the Pennsylvania Deparmtnet of Health. The revoked ordinances will be advertised for 10 days before further action is motioned for June 11.
by Jonathan Weaver
Ford City Borough Council unanimously voted at their monthly special meeting last night to begin the process of eliminating their Board of Health.
The 5-0 vote was motioned by Councilwoman Kim Bish after Mayor Marc Mantini called for the revocation two weeks ago after finding out the department was operating “illegally and improperly.”
Council Vice-President Rob Mohney was absent.
Council President Lou Vergari explained why Council voted as such.
“I guess this is the beginning of the end of the Board of Health,” Vergari said. “We just didn’t keep up our end of the bargain, so that’s why it has to happen. I guess we’ll be going into the 21st century kicking and dragging, but if we don’t take care of the stuff we have to take care of, then we lose it.
“We just kind of let it slide,” Vergari later added. “That’s one page we’re going to turn and move into the new world.”
The first step of the process is to advertise the elimination of all included ordinances – specifically Ordinance 12, adopted in 1899, and Ordinance 67 which took effect in 1914 – for 10 days.
Bish said Council will vote at their June 11 meeting to eliminate local jurisdiction and request the Pennsylvania Department of Health take over authority.
“It will be our duty to inform him of any new businesses that open or any festivals or activities that would have food involved,” Bish said.
A $14 fee for State inspection will be required on the new businesses or temporary eateries, such as at the July Ford City Heritage Days.
Before state authority is voted upon, and possibly enacted by the end of June, Ford City Police will be able to issue citations of unsanitary conditions. Mayor Marc Mantini said some are already present.
“I’m getting a lot of complaints on the high grass, and rightfully so. It’s three feet in some places,” Mantini said. “What these new citations are going to do is make it a very cumbersome process for the police department. It’s a very tedious process – you have to warn these people.”
Solicitor Frank Wolfe said there were changes to the Borough Code enacted by Governor Tom Corbett last week that he would like to read over to see if they apply.
“It looks to me like a confine of what we wanted to do here anyway,” Wolfe said. “But, I just want to look at it one more time.”
Ford City resident JoAnn Scopel – a former member of the Board of Health – agreed that giving control over to the state will help the community.
In other news, Vergari reminded residents that streets are to be swept tonight. Vehicles not moved by 11PM along designated roadways will be ticketed. A list of the schedule is available in the Borough office.
Bish requested residents report any motorists that park on the sidewalk to Ford City Police.