Resident Chides Council about Foreclosed Home

During courtesies of the floor at Hellertown Borough Council's Sept. 19 meeting, longtime Mountainview resident Joe Delfoe strode to the podium with a clump of 18-inch-long grass in his hand. He was there to make a point.

Delfoe, who lives in the 800 block of Maple Road, lives next door to a bank-owned home he says has fallen into disrepair.

The grass, he said, is evidence of how poorly the property is being maintained, and he once again asked council members to do something about the neglect.

"I know nobody on this council would allow something like this next to them," he commented.

Councilwoman Gail Nolf took immediate exception to Delfoe's statement, and responded that she "would not expect any special treatment" if she were living next to a foreclosed home in Hellertown.

"I work just as hard as you," Nolf said to Delfoe.

Delfoe, who has , asked for relief from the situation he's been forced to deal with as an immediate neighbor.

Borough Council Solicitor Michael Corriere subsequently explained that a letter about the bank's failure to maintain the property was sent to Bank of America by Hellertown Codes Enforcement and Zoning Officer Joe Chernaskey on July 18. 

As of Sept. 19, the bank had not responded to the letter, he said.

On Sept. 15, Corriere said, a "final notice" was sent to Bank of America, informing the financial leviathan that the borough intends to place a lien on the property in order to pay for the exterior maintenance work required.

"I think you should cite them for everything you can," Nolf added.

Council President Phil Weber recommended issuing a citation, and then proceeding with the grass-cutting and the placement of a lien on the property.

"We'll cite them and go to the magistrate," Corriere confirmed.

Doing so will allow the borough to recoup fines plus court costs, he added.

Weber asked Director of Public Works Tom Henshaw how soon it would be until the grass at the home is cut, but Henshaw said it would depend on the weather, which has not been cooperative.

"If we have time, we'll go tomorrow," Henshaw said.

"It's probably gonna take you two days to cut it," Delfoe quipped.

Councilman Richard Staffieri was not pleased with the lack of a firm timeline for cutting the knee-high grass.

"The borough has changed," he remarked.

Years ago, he said, if grass had grown too long the borough would send a property owner a letter stating that it had to be cut immediately. If the grass hadn't been cut by the following day, the borough would cut it, he said.