Montrose Boro opts out of COG

Montrose Borough terminated is participation in the Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) and will now handle its own building code permitting and enforcement.
Following a public hearing held during Monday night’s meeting, the council adopted two ordinances – one that terminated the relationship with COG, and another adopting the UCC building code enforcement.
Council president Sean Granahan said COG codes enforcement covers a “very large footprint” in the county, and the council had discussed shifting away from the group in prior meetings.
He said council did not feel that COG had the manpower to “keep tabs on the borough” to make sure people who need permits actually get them. “A lot (of construction) happens with no permits,” he said.
Council named JHA Companies as the entity that will handle both commercial and residential code enforcement and permitting in the borough.
But hit a snag with the permit fee schedule – and tabled adoption of the fees until they had more information about what specific types projects would require a Uniform Construction Code (UCC) permit.
That move will leave at least two residents looking to obtain a permit waiting until the next council meeting, scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Audience member Sue McNamara questioned why the borough wanted to take codes enforcement back over. “Is this better as a taxpayer and business owner?”
Granahan said the borough would not be paying any more for JHA services than they have for COG. “It’s a net neutral on the budget,” he said. “It’s not a money maker or a money loser.”
Permit fees would cover the cost, he said.
Councilman Craig Reimel said the move from COG was also a way to help streamline the process of opening a business in the borough. “There are businesses that have waited an inordinate amount of time for building code permits,” he said.
JHA Companies is also putting together user-friendly information sheets for borough residents that will indicate when permits are required, and how to apply for those permits. The sheets will available on the borough’s website and at the municipal office on Cherry Street.
Council members Tom LaMont and Judy Kelly voiced concerns about the proposed fees, with Kelly stating she thought the wording about when a permit would be required was ambiguous.
“Not everything requires a permit,” Granahan said, adding the permit fee would only be required if the proposed project required obtaining a UCC permit.
*Council gave its approval for the Chocolate Santa Roll to be held on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m., as part of Christmas in Montrose events;
*Approval for United Fire Company’s annual Parade of Lights was also given. The parade will be held Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m.;
*The purchase of new Christmas lights and wreaths and garland for the light posts in the downtown area was approved at a cost of $1,600;
*Council also approved a “hold harmless” agreement for residents involved in the tree removal project to sign if they wish borough workers to collect tree trunks from their properties not accessible from the curbside.