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Housing 'wellness' has sanitation ties
By John J. Hopkins Times
Seven months into a sanitation code enforcement program, the Town Board plans to reassign two part-time code enforcement officers after members determined that they are better suited in a department that is accustomed to dealing with property violations.
Two residents who were hired part-time to write warning notices to residents who don't comply with the town sanitation code will be placed in the building inspection department, one of several departments operated by Supervising Code Enforcement Officer Tom Adamczak.
Board members suggested that sanitation is linked closely to the town's neighborhood and housing "wellness" plan, an aggressive program in which housing inspectors are taking a close look at houses that could fall into the blighted category.
That program will receive a boost next year when the town adds two full-time positions to the housing department. Cheektowaga will hire one building inspector and one clerk.
"We promised in April that we were going to concentrate on housing and police," Supervisor James J. Jankowiak said. "That's what the year 2008's budget is concentrating on: control of our housing stock and the security of our taxpayers."
Discussions with police officials concerning security indicated that there is sometimes severe overcrowding in the jail cells, located in the basement of the Police and Courts Building, with up to five prisoners sharing a cell designed for one person. (See story on page 4)
Jankowiak assured a trio of Cedargrove Heights residents that the code enforcers, Debbie Kubiak and James Sala, won't take away from the mission of the housing inspectors.
"Tom (Adamczak) doesn't like this idea," Jankowiak admitted. "They will work on sanitation issues, but Tom- someone who answers to the board on a daily basis- will be their boss."
The sanitation code has undergone several changes in the last two years as the town attempts to battle a rodent infestation. Garbage placed at the curb in plastic bags contributes to the problem because the bags are easy for rodents to chew through to reach a food source.
Residents are now required to store their garbage at the curb in open-top containers made of metal or heavy duty plastic.
One Cedargrove resident said that the code isn't being enforced, and Jankowiak agreed that the program had "stalled for a variety of reasons," but stated the plan will be in full force in 2008.
"You will use cans; you will not put your garbage out until six o'clock at night and you will follow the rules and regulations that the town board has set forth," Jankowiak said.
Adamczak indicated that the sanitation code enforcers may have taken on too large a task by attempting to enforce the entire code. He said they should be commended for their approach, but suggested that the enforcers should have only focused on garbage placed at the curb in bags.
"The problem is focusing on the worst problem, and that is where people use bags, and bags only," Adamczak said. "Focus on that first and worry about those who put garbage out at three o'clock at a later date."
Jankowiak also stated that, even though no fines have been issued for sanitation code violations, compli- ance is improving.
An informal survey before the program was launched indicated that only 35 percent of residents were storing their garbage in cans at the curbside. That figure is now around 65 percent.
A Times analysis of town records between April 1 and July 23 found that 1,673 homes and businesses were cited for sanitation code violations.
"It has improved. Is it perfect? No," Jankowiak said. "And the rodent complaints have been down. It's going to get better. It will work. Give it time."
Councilmember Jeff Swiatek said that one of the problems is trying to break the habit of leaving garbage stored only in bags at the curb, a habit dating to the 1970s, when plastic garbage bags became popular.
Councilmember Rick Zydel said, based on the townwide hike in compliance, the program is successful.
"It's informed our residents," Zydel added. "People are learning about the code."
Jankowiak said that because sanitation department officials are not trained for writing citations, Adamczak's experience enforcing codes will be beneficial to the sanitation code enforcers.
In order for a summons to hold up in court, Adamczak said Kubiak and Sala must notify the property owner or tenant about the code. If compliance doesn't occur within the time given, a claim can be filed in court.
"There are forms that have to be used, we'd have to show them how to use them," Adamczak added.
Swiatek concurred with Jankowiak's reasoning for placing the sanitation code enforcers in the housing department.
"We need all the help we can get to do this as fairly as possible," Swiatek reasoned. "Tom knows how to do this because he does this for a living."
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