Code Enforcement should be uniform for all residents. Respectable citizens have a right to live in a safe and decent neighborhood and to enjoy their own property.
Guess my neighbor can’t read the No Trespassing sign in the dark .. I could add more light and cameras in that corner, but would it really matter, anyway?
Maybe I could just buy signs like this since he really hates it when those pesky aliens keep abducting him – ask him to show you the worm protruding from his chest from the last abduction!
Why didn’t West Penn Township Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer give this violator the required TIME LIMIT to comply with the law? – Is Ralph Hummel still waiting for the police chief to give him permission to Enforce the Codes on this ‘friend of a friend’??? The weather was unusually warm until now, but my neighbor has done nothing except drink, smoke, and pee…. Township ‘excuse’ is “This is a PROCESS” = The Process of Sweeping Violations Under The Rug?
Can you see the “West-Penn-Township-Approved Progress” that my neighbor has made in the 11 weeks since the so-called “condemnation” and “maintenance code violations” were “posted”? The only difference in the property is that there is more garbage added and Dan is moving his ‘living area’ closer to the property line. He still uses this condemned trailer to store his ‘stuff’ and for his visits with his “winter supplier”. This sham of declaring the property condemned means absolutely nothing
The living area on Jan. 7, 2020:
Today’s “living area”— he moved his car closer to the property line — He thinks I don’t see him sneaking onto my property in the dark …. I may have to surprise him one night…..
Is this the temporary supplier that is making deliveries while the ‘neighbor with special township privileges’ is in FL? He delivers bags into the trailer, saved the video of him leaving today in his Chevy Silverado. Is he backing up in my driveway so I could see his truck better? Could this be “Daryl” (or is it his brother, Daryl?)
-as long as I am always prepared to defend myself against the criminals that are protected by bias-based policing.
.. will get you harassed.
Guess Dan is just stoned again and wants to scare me by shooting close to my house in the dark. Neighbor Lessi boasted years ago that he had a special ‘friend’ in this township who ignores his intoxicated driving – his “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gesture was shooting our bluebird houses while we watched because he thought we were afraid of guns. Dan can’t legally own a weapon, but if the neighbor can freely supply him with alcohol and drugs – why not a gun too??
Recently, Dan told me that if I called West Penn Township Police, chief Johnson will come, pat him on the back, say “Hey, how you doin’ Dan”, and then falsely accuse me instead of some crime. I have no ‘connections’ in this township government, so I guess I’ll have to protect myself against being bullied or railroaded.
Don’t police in rural areas like West Penn Township have some sort of Code of Ethics policy? A law enforcement officer that follows a code like this from the “International Association of Chiefs of Police” would certainly deserve the respect of a community.
“As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.
I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence.
I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession… law enforcement.”
This neighboring property has finally been condemned by West Penn Township Zoning officer, Ralph Hummel Jr. of Lehigh Engineering. However, this does not affect my neighbor since he lives in the car anyway and it does not mean that the property will be cleaned up any time in the near future. (It does mean that the rodents must be pleased to be able to breed peacefully now in their ‘nesting trailer’. The officer would not say if even he dared to enter the trailer to inspect inside.)
Since the Violation Notice of 6NOV19, no effort has been made to comply except for some gathering of rubbish. It appears that all Dan had to do was reply within 7 days to Mr. Hummel and state his intention to clean up someday, and he was given no time limits whatsoever to remedy any code violations. Is this the township’s reason? – “~he is bipolar, alcoholic and schizophrenic with suicidal tendencies, with this in mind, it is my belief to solve these issue and for the safety of all involved, we need to proceed with caution on all matters with Mr ~ “. (I don’t believe for a minute that it is my safety that West Penn Township is concerned about)
West Penn Township CODE 810.B.2.d
If it appears that a violation of any zoning provisions has occurred, the zoning officer shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided below:
2. An enforcement notice shall state at least the following:
d. The date before which the steps for compliance must be commenced and the date before which the steps must be completed
According to the township response on the complaint, it appears that Dan’s neighbor will take charge when he comes back from wintering in FL.
Should I assume by this Official Township Response to the complaint below that this matter is on ‘hold’ until the neighbor friend comes back from FL in the spring?
