Jeannette hires property maintenance officer

A part-time property maintenance officer will be on the job starting next week in Jeannette.

City council on Tuesday hired Vincent Pascarella of New Stanton at a rate of $17.50 per hour. City clerk Nathan Bish said Pascarella, who has 35 years of law enforcement experience, will work 20 to 25 hours weekly.

“I’m really glad we’re bringing (the position) back,” Bish said.

The enforcement of property maintenance fell in recent years to Fire Chief Bill Frye and code enforcement officer Bill Whetzel, neither of whom had time to focus on the issue in addition to their other duties.

“We’ve been getting a lot of these calls and it’s honestly too much for Bill Frye to handle,” Bish said.

The property maintenance officer will look at quality of life issues, such as high grass, broken windows and garbage strewn about the city. Frye said during the winter, the officer can help develop the city’s vacant building inventory.

“That’s going to free me up to focus back on rental properties and fire inspections,” Frye said.

Mayor Curtis Antoniak agreed that property maintenance issues were too much for Frye and Whetzel to take on.

“This position here was much needed and I think we got … a fantastic person,” he said.

Council interviewed four candidates on Sept. 16 and settled on the finalist, Bish said. Pascarella will start work Monday.

His hiring adds to the city’s efforts to target blight. Whetzel was hired in February as a full-time code officer, bolstering the city’s ability to keep up with dilapidated properties and building issues. The move also has been bringing in more money for the city in terms of permitting fees.