A Rooftop Ban Ordinance was approved to enter into the drafting phase at the Kutztown Borough Council meeting Oct. 21, and a new finance director was appointed to fill the full-time gap that has been vacant since mid-July.
The Rooftop Ban Ordinance was brought before the Council by the Community Development and Public Safety sub-committee, which is chaired by Council member Peggy Devlin.
Devlin briefly discussed the ordinance, which will include the following language in some capacity: “It is not permitted to occupy and/or use a roof or overhang of a building when such roof or overhang is not designed and permitted for such occupancy by the Borough Building Code except when performing repairs or maintenance of the roof or in emergency situations.”
Zoning Officer Dan Eslinger, who is also the borough’s director of Community Development, informed Council that he had already sent out a mass email to let landlords know of the pending ordinance.
“I felt it was important to get word out now because landlords are leasing for next year,” Eslinger said.
In other news, after an executive session, the Council announced the hire of a new finance director effective upon passing the standard employee requirements. Sue Johnson will be assuming the full-time position, which the borough had looked into temporarily filling with part-time employees until a full-time hire could be made ever since the position was vacated by a termination in July.
While the borough looks to welcome Johnson, the Council bid farewell to several long-time employees who were retiring. Included in that list were Cheryl Wiltrout with 25 years of service and Robert Gately with 34 years of service. David Remaley was also honored with a plaque for his 22 years of service to the Zoning Hearing Board, which Council President Kevin Snyder presented to him.
In regards to all of the retirees, Snyder remarked that they would be “greatly missed” and hard to replace, but also expressed gratitude for their many years of service.
The Council’s next meeting will take place on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Train Station.