Jul 2, 2013 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough council Tuesday was again asked to take action to force councilman Chris Watson to address the condition of a half-demolished building he owns on East George Street.

The building, which consists of several block walls and an open basement, was discussed by council in April. Since that time, Watson was cited for a violation of the borough’s nuisance ordinance and was ordered to pay a fine by the district judge.

Paul Lesako, who asked about the property in April, told council Tuesday that he has seen nothing done with the building and the eight-foot drop into the open basement, secured only by a yellow caution tape, is a hazard.

Lesako said he thought the matter would be addressed sooner. “We want this thing done as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s just too dangerous over there.”

Watson said he plans to rebuild the building. He said Tuesday that he had cleaned out the foundation and a person had begun to lay new block walls when work was halted by the borough engineer.

Borough secretary Brandi Streit explained that borough engineer Frank Monack of K-2 Engineers had been asked to determine whether Watson needed a building permit for the work.

Monack inspected the site and halted the work, she said. Monack advised Watson on May 22 to tear down the existing block walls. He also told Watson if he wanted to continue to build using the existing walls he would have to have a structural engineer inspect them and determine they are stable.

Watson said he has hired an engineer, whom he declined later to name, who will inspect the building and prepared the required engineering drawings. If the standing walls are found to be unstable, he said, he will tear them down and build from the foundation.

Asked when the engineer will complete the work, Watson said, he didn’t know and the engineer was on vacation.

Mayor Michael Dohanich called the condition of the building an “embarrassment” to the borough and to Watson and he criticized Watson for failing to act to address a hazardous condition sooner.

He asked Streit to contact Monack and to determine from him whether Watson had a time schedule to get the work done.