NOTE:

Welcome To millcreektownship.com

The official website of Millcreek Township.

Attention Residents with Street Light Bills

We are in the process of switching to a new computer software billing solution. A malfunction caused some people to receive a delinquent bill in the month of August that should not have.  This is a know issue and is currently being resolved.  If you have received a delinquent notice and is shows no interest or penalty, it is in error and will be corrected. 

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Millcreek Township Officials and Directory Street Address and Hours: 3608 West 26th Street Erie, PA 16506 Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday Phone: Main: 814-833-1111 After-Hour Emergency (Police Dispatch): 814-833-7777 (For life-or-death emergencies, call 911) General Information Inquiries Please send all email for general information to the following email address: info@millcreektownship.com   Supervisors Brian McGrath, ext. 311, bmcgrath@millcreektownship.com John Groh, ext. 313, jgroh@millcreektownship.com John Morgan, ext. 312, jmorgan@millcreektownship.com Other General Information Supervisors        833-1111 Water/Sewer Authorities    835-6721 Sewer Revenue    835-6721 Millcreek Police    833-7777 Millcreek Paramedic Service    836-8677 Streets    833-4527 Millcreek Tax Collector    838-8666 Berkheimer Associates    833-4870 Judge Paul Manzi    451-6518 Zoning    833-2935 Engineering    833-6096 Parks & Recreation    835-4122 MYAA Schedule    www.myaasports.com Millcreek School District    www.mtsd.org

MILLCREEK ADOPTS AND IMPLEMENTS

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND FIRE CODES

 

 

       Millcreek’s Supervisors on December 17, 2013 approved ordinances which adopted the 2012 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code and the 2009 edition of the International Fire Code as Township codes. 

 

       Millcreek’s codes reflect certain amendments to the International Codes, which are published by the International Code Council and adopted by many states and municipalities.  In part, Millcreek amended the process of administering and enforcing the codes so as to comply with governing law and existing process.  Millcreek’s Property Maintenance Code substituted existing Township regulations on certain matters (including numbering of buildings, handling of municipal waste and recyclable materials, swimming pools and vehicles) for those in the International Code.

 

       Millcreek’s new Fire Code was adopted by Ordinance No. 2013-13, which noted amendments to the 2009 International Fire Code.  Millcreek’s new Property Maintenance Code was adopted by Ordinance No. 2013-14, which also noted amendments to the International Code and provided for publication of a stand-alone Township code.  Both of these ordinances and the new Property Maintenance Code as adopted are accessible through this web site.

 

       Both codes become effective as of January 1, 2014.  After a public process seeking proposals, the Supervisors also awarded a contract to Building Inspection Underwriters of Pennsylvania, Inc. (“BIU”) to administer and enforce the new codes.

 

 

Fire Code

 

 

       The International Fire Code has been among those codes adopted as part of Pennsylvania’s Construction Code, which governs new construction.  Currently, the 2009 edition of the International Fire Code has been adopted as part of the State’s Construction Code.  For the sake of consistency, the Supervisors adopted the 2009 edition of the Code.  Ordinance 2013-13 makes clear that Millcreek’s adoption of the Fire Code is not intended to apply to regulation of new construction which is done under Millcreek Ordinance 2004-9.  The Fire Code was adopted to ensure that current standards are in place for existing buildings.  Ordinance 2013-13 is accessible through the main page of the Ordinances section.

 

       Millcreek’s contract with BIU provides generally for three types of services involving the Fire Code.  As fire code official, BIU will inspect existing non-residential structures for compliance with fire safety regulations set forth in Chapter 7 of the Property Maintenance Code and/or in the Fire Code as adopted.  Upon request, the fire code official will provide inspections and input in two circumstances, both upon request of an owner or occupant:

 

·         Conduct fire safety inspections of existing single-family dwellings, with findings

then being provided to the owner and the Township; and

 

·         Conduct fire safety inspections of existing non-residential buildings as to specific

      conditions or processes that do not involve inspection of an entire facility, with

     findings then being provided to the owner and the Township.

Property Maintenance Code

*** 2013 Property Maintenance Codes Book CLICK HERE

      The Property Maintenance Code addresses minimum standards for interior and exterior maintenance of existing buildings and structures.  The Supervisors adopted a Property Maintenance Code largely to protect against deterioration of the condition of buildings throughout the Township by focusing on fundamental standards before conditions deteriorate to the point where an owner will not correct violations.  Ordinance 2013-14 is accessible through the main page of the Ordinances section.  You can access the entire Property Maintenance Code as adopted in this section.

 

      Initially, BIU will focus its work in two distinct areas, using a similar standard in its inspections.  Each year, it will survey areas of the Township assigned by Millcreek to identify any buildings or structures which fail to meet established minimum standards of fundamental safety and stability. BIU will also receive and review complaints received as to conditions of a particular property.  Where violations are found to exist, BIU will cite the owner or other responsible party.  If violations are not corrected promptly, BIU as code official will bring actions to enforce the code and impose fines for violation.

 

      In general surveys of properties and in responding to complaints, BIU has been instructed by the Township to follow the same standards in determining whether a violation occurs.  These standards do not include every technical requirement in the adopted Code, because in both of these cases, the Township’s concern is with identifying and resolving serious defective conditions. The initial standard being followed by BIU is to focus generally on matters relating directly to -

 

            Unsafe conditions [such as Sections 304.4, 305.1 of the Code]

            Dilapidated or deteriorated property conditions

            Exterior areas uncovered and exposed to the elements [see Sections 304.2, 304.7]

            Sanitation [Section 302.1]

            Weeds, grass and vegetation in excess of 8" height or otherwise violating Section 302.4

            Motor vehicles violating Township standards in Section 302.8

            Swimming pool standards [set forth in Sections 302.1, 303.2]

            Premises identification [Section 304.3]

            Insect screens [Section 304.14]

            Rubbish and garbage standards [see Section 308]

 

      Generally, BIU will provide an owner with written notice where a violation has been found, and the owner will be given an opportunity to rectify the violation with a date being set for a second inspection.  Services to this point are within the Township’s contract with BIU.  The Township likely will establish a schedule of fees for any additional work required by an owner’s failure to take action by the second inspection, etc.

 

 

Additional Inspection Programs

 

      Millcreek anticipates establishing programs of regular inspection of residential rental properties and commercial properties, which would become effective as early as 2015.  Largely for this reason, the Township will not process tenants’ complaints until the rental inspection program is established and can treat similarly used properties in a consistent way.

 

 

Help Needed!

Millcreek Township is displaying 8x10 photos of all past Supervisors.  We are in need of several photos.  If you can provide a photograph of one or more of the supervisors on our list, please let us know.  You can drop off the photograph at the Millcreek Township Administrative Offices at 3608 West 26th Street or you can e-mail the photograph to Rick Figaski at rfigaski@millcreektownship.com.

Supervisor Photographs

Supervisor Name	Service Years	Received
J. P. Zaun	1906-1909
H. H. Russell	1906-1910
L. W. Wolf	1906-1915
F. A. Wagner	1910-1917
S. J. Appleman	1917-1923
E. R. Rinderle	1919-1921
F. C. Zaun	1921-1927
Leo J. Rinderle	1922-1927
J. W. Wynkoop	1923-1929
S. A. Struchen	1927-1939
George E. Williams	1942-1958
Oliver Carson	1944-1947

 

NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES REGISTRATION OF HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS

(This is a summary of the new law, click here for complete law [pdf file])

            Effective July 1, 2009 , the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act No. 132 of 2008) imposes registration requirements on all contractors who perform home improvements for which the total cash value is $5,000 or more per year and enables consumers to learn whether a contractor is properly registered.

Contractors who must register  

            Subject to 2 exceptions, all persons who own and operate a home improvement business or who performs, offers to perform or agrees to perform any home improvement (including persons who contract with a home improvement retailer) must register with the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General.  The term “contractor” does not include persons who perform home improvements having a cash value of less than $5,000 during the previous taxable year and home improvement retailers that have a net worth of more than $50 million or employees of that retailer who do not perform home improvements.

The Act  

            The text of the home Improvement Consumer Protection Act is available through the link below and also on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s web site (www.attorneygeneral.gov).

            The Commonwealth, not municipalities, will be responsible for the registration of home improvement contractors.  Section 7 of the Act discusses home improvement contracts.  Among other things, that section states that a home improvement contract is not valid or enforceable against an owner unless it:

• is legible, in writing and contains the contractor’s registration number;

• is signed by the owner or owner’s agent and the contractor or a person acting for the contractor;

• contains the entire agreement, including attached copies of required notices;

• includes the date of the transaction;

• includes the name, address (not a P.O. Box alone) and telephone number of the contractor;

• contains the approximate starting date and completion date;

• includes a description of the work to be done, materials to be used and a set of specifications that

cannot be changed without a written “change order” signed by the owner and the contractor;

• includes the total sales price due under the contract;

• includes the amount of any down payment plus any amount advanced for purchase of special order

materials, with these amounts listed separately;

• includes the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all subcontractors on the project known at the date of signing the contract (a post office box number alone is not considered an address);

• agrees to maintain liability and property damage insurance coverage as specified in the Act;

• includes the Bureau of Consumer Protection’s toll-free telephone number; and

• includes a notice of the owner’s right to rescind the contract within 3 business days.

Contractor Registration

            The Act establishes requirements and procedures governing registration by contractors.  The Attorney General’s office allows and encourages contractors to register via its internet web site.

Home Improvement Fraud

            Section 8 of the Act defines the offense of home improvement fraud, establishes penalties for violation and enforcement procedures.  The County’s District Attorney and the Pennsylvania Attorney General will have jurisdiction to bring actions for violation.

Consumer Rights

            The Act provides certain rights intended to protect consumers.  It also ensures that consumers can determine whether a contractor is registered as the law requires through the Attorney General’s web site - www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Township Comment:

            This information is provided to assist consumers and home improvement contractors in learning about the new law.  Municipalities do not have authority to enforce this new law.  You should review the law for its specific provisions and consult the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection for additional information.

Community Development Block Grant Information

Below is a list of documents relating to the CDBG. Documents will be added or updated as they become available.

Neighborhood Watch Initiative

 

The Millcreek Township Police Department is beginning a Neighborhood Watch program in an effort to gain community assistance in the battle against crime.   We are looking for people who will communicate with citizens in their neighborhoods, people who will generate interest in the program, and a person to act as a contact.  We will introduce the interested people to the Erie County Neighborhood Watch Council and they will walk us through the steps necessary to start the program.  Our Police Department will act as a resource and supply input at the meetings to help assist with the process.  

Numerous crimes within our community are resolved through the cooperation of citizens.  We are not looking for people to intervene with crimes in progress, but to simply be our eyes and ears to alert officers when suspicious activity is afoot.  With your help, we can minimize crime in your neighborhoods, assist you with making your homes less vulnerable, and keep your neighborhoods safer. 

If you are interested in starting a program in your neighborhood, or simply want additional information, please call Lieutenant Michael Little at 814-838-9515 ext. 425 or email at little@millcreekpd.com.

Erie County’s radio system is in need of replacement. Currently, a singular radio system that all responders can talk on does not exist in Erie County.

Since the 1970’s through the evolution of several dispatch centers, different radio systems were combined together creating our current “system of systems”. Failures of the current county radio system are becoming more common which puts first responders and the public at risk.  Parts for the current county wide radio system are becoming harder to find or non-existent.

Beginning in January 2014, based on the information collected from the physical site surveys (site inspections) and interviews of participating user agencies, a strategic plan for a future communications system was developed by MCM Consulting Group. The goal is to migrate the existing County radio system and users to a common platform to provide the most technologically advanced communications system that meets the needs of Erie County in the most cost efficient way, and provides for interoperability among all users of the system, therefore improving public safety.

Below, you will find links to the radio study’s final report and the PowerPoint presentation shown to the public at the recent meeting held at the Millcreek Township Municipal Building on December 1st 2014. This information is identical to the information presented to county council.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Erie County Department of Public Safety

John Grappy, Director of Public Safety

814-451-7920

 

Click here for Erie County Needs Assessment...

 

Click here for Erie County Needs Assessment Presentation...

 

Resolutions enacted to update policies and fees for services.

RTK Process and Fee Resolution

2014-15 amd 5-12-15 - fees

An Ordinance to approve, adopt and enact an Ordinance Codification for the Township of Millcreek, County of Erie, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to provide for the repeal of certain legislation not included therein; to save from repeal certain other legislation not included therein; and to provide penalties for tampering with the Code.

Code Adoption Ordinance 2016-11

Please take notice that a proposed Ordinance to adopt a Code of ordinances of Millcreek Township will be advertised and included on the agenda of the Board of Supervisors’ meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m., at which time the Board will act on the proposed ordinance.

Notice of Proposed Code Adoption

Here is a link to the Millcreek Township history of documents.

Click here for Codification Documents