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McAdoo drafting own version of illegals law
Wednesday, 27 September 2006
By SAM GALSKI
Standard-Speaker
McAdoo council authorized its solicitor to write its own version of Hazleton’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

It also voted to advertise rental registration and occupancy permit ordinances.

The governing body unanimously approved Councilwoman Claire Preputnick’s motion authorizing borough Solicitor Joe Semasek to review and advertise an IIRA ordinance that would suit McAdoo’s needs.

Her request followed yet another round of questions and critical comments from Mayor Steve Holly regarding majority council’s hesitancy for enacting an IIRA.

Holly has called on borough council in recent months to follow in the footsteps of Hazleton City Council and city Mayor Lou Barletta and adopt IIRA-type legislation.

But majority borough council members have frequently said they wanted to wait until the city adopted a finalized version of its immigration law before enacting one it its own.

City council approved a final version of its IIRA Sept. 12.

Hazleton’s latest version of IIRA changed substantially from previous renditions. The latest seven-page document contains a long list of definitions and makes a reference to “harboring” illegal immigrants. Code enforcement is responsible for enforcing Hazleton’s legislation.

The city ordinance requires its businesses to sign affidavits pledging not to hire illegals and spells out actions required of businesses found employing illegals.

Another section of the city ordinance, titled “Harboring Illegal Aliens,” covers instances when property is rented to an illegal.

Semasek is expected to work with Hazleton’s IIRA and tailor it to suit the needs of McAdoo.

McAdoo council President Brian Kolbush pointed out one section of the city’s IIRA that would have to be changed if the measure were adopted in the borough. Hazleton’s IIRA references business permits, but Kolbush said the borough doesn’t issue them.

Councilman Joe Madochick said he personally felt that the borough has to put more of an emphasis on “people buying homes.”

Holly said he wanted the borough to focus on businesses that employ illegals.

“Although we are landlocked, its not to say other businesses can’t come in or existing businesses can’t hire illegals,” Holly said.

Madochick also asked who would be responsible for enforcing the borough’s IIRA.

“We don’t have full-time code enforcement,” Madochick said. No one on council answered.

Council also authorized the solicitor to advertise two ordinances designed to keep tabs on who is moving into and out of the borough.

The first measure would mandate a rental registration program.
Council reviewed a draft version of the ordinance at the Sept. 13 work session.

Like IIRA, McAdoo based its working rental registration ordinance on legislation adopted in Hazleton.

Council had already authorized Semasek to rewrite the measure to fit McAdoo’s needs and voted Monday to advertise it.

The ordinance basically establishes a registration program for residential registration properties; requires all property owners to register properties (and requires out-of-town landlords to appoint an agent); prescribes duties of both property owners and tenants and establishes fees for registering rental properties and for permits that must be obtained by occupants.

It also lists penalties for those found in violation of the ordinance.
Kolbush, however, said McAdoo’s rendition of the rental registration ordinance will remove a subsection that would’ve required property owners to obtain at least $50,000 worth of general liability insurance and hazard and casualty insurance “in an amount sufficient to either restore or remove the building in the event of a fire or other casualty.”

In a separate vote, council authorized the solicitor to advertise an ordinance that would require people moving into or out of the borough to obtain a $20 permit and register with the borough secretary.

This measure – also based on Hazleton law – is an amended version of borough Ordinance 127, which establishes fees and the process for obtaining moving permits.

McAdoo council recently voted to repeal its former moving permit ordinance and replace it with a modified version intended to help borough officials keep better track of who is moving into and out of the borough, Kolbush recently said.