70. Suggestion for the February 21, 2019 Mercer County Judicial Sale - RIGHTS / RESPONSIBILLITIES

The suggestion is to survey each property to see what its status is before the February 21st judicial sale.

The winning bidder should be queried by a City of Sharon employee or official in attendance as to their intention for the property.

If it is abandoned, is it blighted? Unstructured paint is enough to be out of code and blighted.

If not abandoned, how is the new owner going to address the property’s occupancy? If there is an intention to end

the current occupancy, does the new owner have a grasp of the law affecting the current renter / occupants?

If the building is not code compliant, my suggestion is to immediately inform the new buyer that the building is not 

code compliant and serve the new owner citations for correction.

Ask the new owner if they are current with all real estate taxes for all other properties they might own. Ask them if they

are current with sewage fees and waste refuse fees for other properties they might own.

The rationale is this. The winning buyer has a right to buy. But rights require responsibilities.  In the past many properties

are acquired and their new owner has no intention to refurbish or rehabilitate. Instead, the property enters the ranks

of zombie properties. Bidders at the judicial sale should be reminded at the sale of their right to buy carries responsibilities.

If an immediate citation action is made for code enforcement, the buyer is forced into a responsible position of knowledge that the as the owner they are responsible to bring a property into code compliance.

If the new owner is queried in the other areas mentioned, and found not to be tax or fee current, or not code compliant;it is my

understanding is that such noncompliance is a basis to have a sale voided by the City of Sharon in accordance with Pennsylvania Code, at Purdons Statutes, 72, Taxation and Fiscal Affairs.

This next sale on February 21, 2019, could be an opportunity to end the cycle of rights without responsibilities.