DUNCANSVILLE — Borough council discussed the implications of a sweeping effort to update and codify local ordinances during a Tuesday night meeting. These could include new inspection and permitting fees for rental units, licenses for games of chance machines and guidelines on residential solar power projects.

According to Borough Manager and police Chief Rodney Estep, code enforcement Officer Bryan Rhodes has been working since early summer to collect years of ordinances passed by Borough Council into a single, unified document that is easily accessible for residents.

Under the current organization system, officials turn to borough solicitor Michael Emerick every time there is a question about a specific ordinance that cannot be answered off-hand, which is a time-consuming process, Estep said.

Having all borough ordinances codified into a single document that can be uploaded online would allow residents to check for themselves without going through the solicitor, and would reduce potential issues of ordinance enforcement.

According to Estep, the borough had incorrectly told a resident that they only needed a construction permit when changing their roof from shingles to metal, while in fact borough ordinance requires permits for all types of major roof projects, regardless of material.

Having a codified ordinance structure would be a quality of life improvement for residents, Estep said, since they would not have to guess about borough regulations.

Rhodes said that he has recently received several requests for guidance from local citizens on residential solar panel installation ordinance, which the borough does not currently have.

Enacting a specific ordinance regarding the size and placement of potential solar arrays would allow the borough to take a proactive stance, rather than reacting to an issue after it occurs, said council member Jeffrey Lynn.

Rhodes said he has researched solar ordinances enacted by municipalities from “Pittsburgh to Philadelphia,” in order to understand the consensus opinion of other local governments.

He will work with Emerick to draft an initial solar ordinance to present for council’s approval in the next few months, Rhodes said.

Another area that could be expanded under the newly codified ordinance structure is per-unit fees for rental housing in the borough, Estep said.

Several municipalities in Blair County have ordinances that require landlords to pay up to a $100 fee per unit per year in order to keep their rental permits, Estep said, and that failure to retain rental permits could result in these units going unoccupied.

Estep did not specify a specific per-unit fee during the discussion, but suggested that if council approved the new ordinance by early 2025, they could implement half of the fee in July, with the whole cost imposed beginning January 2026.

This revised ordinance may also include a required annual inspection conducted by the rental unit’s landlord, Estep said.

These inspections would make functional smoke detectors and stair handrails, among other features, necessary for a “safe residence,” a prerequisite for these rental permits, Estep said.

A triannual visual inspection by the borough code enforcement officer may be included in the final text of the ordinance, he said.

Rhodes is also considering an ordinance for mechanical operators’ inspection fees for games of chance machines. This fee would not be a tax levied by the borough, Emerick said, but would instead be a fee to cover the cost of sending a police or code inspection officer to inspect the unit and ensure it complies with commonwealth regulations.

According to Estep, only two companies in Pennsylvania specialize in municipal ordinance codification, due to the manpower and legal know-how necessary for codification projects. He is currently pursuing quotes from both companies on a complete ordinance codification project for Duncansville Borough, Estep said, since it is beyond the scope of what Rhodes can complete by himself.

While council did not vote on any ordinance change during the meeting, council president Annette Lewis expressed support for the codification process and encouraged Rhodes and Estep to continue their ongoing efforts.

The Tuesday night session was the first Borough Council meeting held in the newly-renovated Community Center building. Prior meetings were held in the Municipal Building two blocks away.

All borough government meetings were moved to the Community Center building ahead of the sale of the Municipal Center building. Funds from the sale will cover a majority of the costs associated with the renovation project.

According to Estep, the borough hosted a walk-through of the Municipal Building for a potential buyer this past week, but has not yet received an offer.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.