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Police chief to lead enforcement of smoke-shop rules; state inspections described as infrequent
Summary
Staff told the hearing enforcement authority in the proposed ordinance would rest with the police chief, who has agreed to enforce the rules. Record attendees said state inspections are infrequent (quarterly), and the ordinance is intended to allow more frequent local inspections.
Staff told the hearing the proposed ordinance vests enforcement authority with the police chief and said Chief McAlister has agreed to take on that role. The Staff member described due-process protections for regulated parties, including the right to appeal a police chief decision to a hearing or citation officer.
The record notes state inspections (referred to as "DCP" visits in the discussion) happen infrequently—about quarterly—leaving gaps in local oversight. Staff argued the ordinance would give borough officials more autonomy to conduct inspections at reasonable times and not rely solely on the state’s schedule.
"They have the right to appeal any decision by the police chief, and it goes to a hearing officer, a citation officer," a Staff member said, describing procedural safeguards for license denials or enforcement actions. The record does not include a specific enforcement schedule or additional staffing commitments; those implementation details would be determined if and when the ordinance is adopted.
