Boardman police officer helps handle zoning issues

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — It starts with an anonymous letter or phone call to the township zoning office.

What follows is a series of letters, inspections and sometimes court action, trying to get a property owner to fix zoning and maintenance problems.

Some people are more receptive than others.

About a month ago, the zoning department sought reinforcements.

Police Detective Chuck Mound, in uniform and in a cruiser, accompanies Peter Ross, assistant zoning inspector, on his weekly rounds of offending properties.

Ross says it makes a difference. “Most people aren’t going to give me any argument now,” he said. “They give more attention to the problem rather than ‘Why are you picking on me?’”

Teaming with zoning personnel also gives Mound more comprehension of the issues facing another township department.

“I have more of an understanding of zoning and how it affects the quality of life here in Boardman,” the detective said.

Problems run the gamut from high grass to peeling paint to junk vehicles or debris on the property.

The correction process isn’t quick.

The process

When zoning gets a complaint, the first step is a visit to verify a violation.

Next comes a notice of violation, sent by certified mail, informing the owner of the problem and specifying a time frame for it to be fixed.

After that time elapses, office personnel return to determine if the issues have been addressed. If not, a second notice follows with a threat of court action.

If nothing’s done, a citation follows.

If convicted in court of a home-rule violation, the penalty is a $250 fine. A conviction for a zoning code violation such as junk vehicles on a property nets a fine of $500 per day.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com