Redevelopment authority urges better coordination as Sunbury code office sees turnover

Amy Wheeler, speaking for the Redevelopment Authority and the Historic Architecture Review Board, told the council she was concerned about ongoing turnover in the city's code office and the resulting gaps in coordination with redevelopment programs.

Wheeler said the redevelopment authority relies on a functional code office to issue citations, administer warnings and move blighted properties through the redevelopment process. She cited a recent success in which a purchaser completed a project at 1041 Line Street and said the authority needs a stable line of communication with whichever council member oversees the code office to continue progress.

Wheeler also asked about the codification and online publication of ordinances. City representatives said codification has not been done in three to four years because it is costly and typically done in larger batches; eCode (the third-party online codification service) mirrors only codified ordinances, and the city updates its website as resources allow. Wheeler urged the council to ensure staff and the redevelopment authority are looped in for training and procedural clarity when new code personnel are hired.

Why it matters: Coordination among the code office, redevelopment authority and blight programs determines how quickly problem properties can be addressed and whether successful rehabilitation projects continue to move forward.

Council response: Council members acknowledged the cost of codification and discussed practical steps such as better internal communication and targeted training for new hires; no formal vote was taken.