102 Adamstown properties have maintenance violations

Notices will be sent to owners soon, borough council reported.

WRITTEN BY VALDIS I. LACIS

ADAMSTOWN — 

Dr. Shad J. Lewis, an Adamstown council member, reported at a recent meeting that Associated Building Inspectors LLC has found that 13 percent, or 102, of the borough's nearly 800 properties have property maintenance violations.

He said violation notices will likely be sent to owners soon, and "inspections conducted until compliance is gained."

Also at the recent meeting, council adopted an ordinance that requires residents to keep their water meters accessible at all times for inspection, reading, repair or removal. Failure to comply may result in fines of $250 to $1,000, plus costs of prosecution and borough attorney fees.

In other business, council agreed to try to save a large hive of honeybees hanging from a walnut tree along a borough trail.

"We could spray and kill the bees, cut down the live walnut tree to get the queen to relocate her hive, or do nothing," council President Randy O. Good noted.

"Save the bees," Lewis urged.

Good agreed that "we won't kill them."

With the bees 5 or 6 feet above ground, council approved Good's recommendation to put a metal fence with poles around the elevated hive.

Also, Adamstown Area Library Director Kathy Thren invited residents to tour two vineyards in the Poconos on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for $130 per person. Proceeds of the trip will benefit the library's $1.5 million "Room to Grow" capital campaign, she said. Registration is due by Oct. 15.

Thren noted that the library's planned new home at 110 W. Main St. "will create a larger library that meets the needs of the five municipalities we serve, and nearly doubles our collections of books, DVDs, audios and computers."