Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council Adopts Vacant Property Registration Ordinance, Adds Foreclosure Registry
Summary
After a presentation by vendor Herro Property Registry, Lock Haven adopted Ordinance No. 2024-04 to replace Chapter 376 with a vacant buildings registration including foreclosing mortgage/owner registration and a $125 vendor registration fee; council members discussed enforcement definitions of vacancy and staff workload.
Lock Haven City Council voted on Aug. 5 to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-04, replacing city Code chapter 376 with a vacant buildings registration that extends registration requirements to bank/foreclosure owners and creates a vendor-supported registry.
Kevin Sydella of Herro Property Registry presented the program, saying the company maintains a database for municipalities, will register properties owned by banks during foreclosure and will coordinate with city staff on privately vacant properties. Sydella said, “our fee is a hundred and $25 of registration,” and that the company retains a portion of collected fees while the remainder is remitted to the municipality. He described the product as a communication tool: “We build a database for the city… You communicate right through our system with the property or the property managers.”
Council discussion focused on scope and enforcement. A council member asked whether the ordinance targets only foreclosures or privately vacant units as well; Sydella replied the program addresses two “silos” — foreclosures and privately vacant properties — and that the vendor primarily uses utility data, sheriff sales and judicial sale information to identify properties. Staff summarized the ordinance’s evidence of vacancy to include overgrown vegetation, posted notices, disconnected utilities, accumulation of junk, absence of furnishings and a lack of observed occupant activity; those indicators would guide enforcement rather than transient vacancies while renovations or tenant turnover occur.
Council members also raised staff capacity and data questions. One member noted recent improvements in property maintenance staffing and asked whether the city would be able to process additional notices and collections. Staff said bringing properties back to the tax rolls and collecting registration fees would be a municipal benefit but acknowledged enforcement can require repeated citations and court action.
A motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-04 was made and seconded; council members present voted to approve the ordinance. The vendor thanked the council for consideration and said the registry would be available for city use and review.
The ordinance directs staff to publish vacancy criteria on the city website and to coordinate with the vendor on implementation steps and fee remittance.
