Donora: Changes to emergency demolition procedure considered

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora council reviewed an ordinance this week that could make it easier and quicker to bring down dangerous structures in the borough.

Solicitor Steve Toprani introduced the idea of moving emergency demolitions out of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas with the help of a borough ordinance last fall.

The new law would enable council to act as the hearing board, giving property owners a chance at due process, but would cut out a lot of the red tape involved in actual court proceedings — especially now that the pandemic has thrown court schedules out of whack.

Donora Code Enforcement Officer Michele Harris reviewed the draft ordinance with council during its workshop meeting Thursday and offered some suggestions, such as expanding the definition of a dangerous building.

For example, Harris said, she would like the definition to include that of an attractive nuisance. 

Harris said there are some dangerous buildings that are dangerous because no matter how many times they’re boarded up and access to them is blocked, people make their way inside and often commit other crimes once inside. She said many of those buildings are often attractive to younger kids as well and are dangerous for many reasons.

Toprani agreed to expand the definition.

Toprani explained that this ordinance will not deal with normal applications to demolish properties. This new law, if approved, would apply strictly to structures that could cause immediate damage or harm. 

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Friday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.