MANCHESTER – During the most recent Township Council meeting, an ordinance was introduced that would require the Code Enforcement Officer to review any change in registration for abandoned properties.
The aim of the ordinance is to keep accurate, up-to-date records of registered abandoned properties within Manchester. According to the ordinance, the registration requirements would include that the owner of any vacant and abandoned property file a registration statement for the property with the Code Enforcement Officer on forms provided by the township.
Often, abandoned properties become eyesores, or at the very worst, hazardous as the property falls into disrepair. Empty houses attract vermin and unkempt yards breed insects. Sometimes, youth will break into these houses.
The governing body approved several other ordinances on first reading authorizing the sale of property including 851 Route 539, 1723 Hegstrom Avenue and 1701 Hegstrom Avenue.
Mayor Robert Hudak presented two proclamations during the night. The first was proclaiming September 18, 2021 as Usher Syndrome Awareness Day. Residents who are close to that cause accepted the proclamation from him during the session.
The proclamation notes that more than 400,000 people are affected by this genetic disorder worldwide with approximately 20,000 to 50,000 living in the United States.
At the present time, Usher syndrome is incurable and impacts three major senses in the body, vision, hearing and balance.
Vision loss by those with this disease is caused by a progressive vision disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa. This causes the light-sensing cells in the retina to gradually deteriorate, starting in night blindness. This is followed by narrowing of the visual field, commonly known as tunnel vision.
Children with Usher syndrome are born with or develop hearing loss and it is estimated that upward of 10% of people with congenital bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss have Usher syndrome.
Balance is achieved and maintained through input from one’s eyes. The vestibular organs in the inner ear and the sensory systems of the body, such as the skin, muscles and joints dysfunction.
There are three clinical types of Usher syndrome which are distinguished by the severity and age when signs and symptoms appear. There are at least 10 genetic types of the syndrome, as determined by the genes that are involved.
They cannot be determined by clinical testing. DNA testing is the only reliable way of determining the true genetic type according to the proclamation.
The second proclamation concerned National Prisoner of War – Missing In Action Recognition Day designated for September 17.
Mayor Hudak gathered with several veterans for this presentation noting that on the third Friday in September, National POW-MIA Day is recognized across the country. The proclamation read that throughout American history, members of the armed forces have made uncommon sacrifices as POWs, serving the nation under conditions of extreme hardship while remaining steadfast even when their treatment violated fundamental standards of morality and international codes of conduct.
The proclamation noted that “1,584 Americans are still missing from the Vietnam War, 7,555 are unaccounted for from the Korean War, 126 from the Cold War, 72,404 from World War II and more from World War I, the Gulf Wars, the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan and other conflicts.”
Council Vice President Joan Brush ran the meeting in the absence of Council President Craig Wallis. Officials noted the loss of former Township Councilman Charles L. Frattini who died on August 28 at the age of 92. He served on council from January 2013 to April 30, 2019.
Mayor Hudak replaced him on the council at that time and Township Clerk Sabina Martin noted that “he was a very accomplished U.S. Marine and an award-winning photo journalist.”
“He made laughter in every meeting and he nicknamed me the Township Historian,” Councilman Sam Fusaro said.
Land sales held earlier that evening included 202 Pine Street which did not receive a bid. It had a $4,795 minimum bid. The other lots were purchased by the same resident and included 302 Central Avenue, 304 Central Avenue, and 316 Central Avenue. The minimum bids for each of those properties were $1,042 for the first two Central Avenue properties and $9,486 for 316 Central Avenue.
During the meeting the Council authorized the payment of bills in the amount of $5,797,385.67.
