FC Council Imposes Fee on Borough’s Permitting Company

Council in Ford City said they are doing administrative work for building and demolition permits, and want 10% of what is charged by an outside firm.

FORD CITY - Ford City Borough Council voted last night to impose a fee to Bureau Veritas, who issues the Borough’s building and demolition permits.

Council President Carol Fenyes told the few residents in attendance that this cost is not an increase of fees, but rather a demand for the permitting company to turn over 10% of fees collected to the Borough.

“The Bureau Veritas does all of our building inspections and they do all of our demolition permits,” explained Fenyes. That said, we have administrative procedures that we have to follow here in the borough to support those building permits and demolition permits. This 10% fee is not a fee that the Borough is imposing. It’s a fee that Bureau Veritas already imposes on (various permits). It just allows us to get a 10% cut of those fees.”

Fenyes made it clear that the 10% administrative fee was not an increase to the fee structure.

“They are already charging whatever they charge. Our 10% comes out of what they already charge.”

Fenyes could not speak for the inspection company, but hoped they would not increase fees to residents.

“You would have to ask Grant Kanish (Bureau Veritas). I don’t know.”

If Bureau Vertitas does raise fees, then essentially in would be a service fee increase such as the one attempted to be imposed on garbage fees in Kittanning last Monday night, but Kittanning Council failed to override the Mayor’s veto.