SHAMOKIN - Apartment building owners and those who rent out homes may not only face prosecution and fines for not following the city's new landlord/tenant ordinance, but could also lose federal subsidies for rental assistance.
Under a policy change approved Thursday by the Shamokin Housing Authority's executive board, landlords must follow all of the Shamokin ordinances and the policies of any municipal organization, such as the Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority.
"Since we are a municipal organization, we not only have to follow the statutes of the federal and state governments, but the local government as well," executive director Ronald Miller said.
Failure to follow the guideline could disqualify a landlord from the U.S Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher rental subsidy program, Miller informed the board. The policy was approved on a motion from Suzanne Kopitsky and seconded by Pamala S. Rhoades. Voting for the policy change were Kopitsky, Rhoades, chairman Raymond G. Splane and member James Picarelli. Member Robert J. Wolfe was absent.
At the start of the meeting, the board heard from Rich Larsen, from the accounting firm of Fallon and Larsen, of Toms River, N.J., on the authority's recent audit. Larson said the audit showed the authority is following all procedures correctly and have 17 months of expenditures available to spend if funding is cut to the agency.
Miller was also authorized to draft a letter for the Shamokin Police Department, showing the authority's support for the department's application for a grant to combat drunk, aggressive and dangerous driving.