Shippenville acts on abandoned vehicles

By Tom DiStefano, Clarion News Writer

CLARION - Shippenville Borough Council approved a budget which holds taxes steady, and discussed actions regarding violators of the borough’s abandoned vehicle ordinance – including the council president and the mayor.

The borough recently sent out seven letters to property owners with unregistered vehicles on their properties, including one to council president Mike Cotherman and one to Mayor Eric Sterner.

Sterner said his vehicle is now gone, but Cotherman asked for an extension on the 30-day limit to remove an unregistered vehicle. Council granted the extension.

Cotherman said he has the vehicle sold, but the new owner works out of town and has not come to pick it up yet.

After some jokes about moving Cotherman’s vehicle to various properties around town and an offer from council member Dutch Robertson to rent space in his garage for $50 a month, Council agreed to grant Cotherman an extension.

Cotherman suggested similar extensions be granted to any one who asks, and member Linda Runyon said such extensions should be granted if the property owner shows progress toward removing the vehicle.

Council directed maintenance manager Russ Rennard to check on the properties with unregistered vehicles whose owners were sent letters.

If the vehicles are still there and if extension has been requested, a towing company is to be called and the vehicles removed at the owner’s expense as stipulated in the borough ordinance.


NEWS SOURCE