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PITTSTON — Three new municipalities could become voting members of the Northeast Land Bank Authority.
Executive Director Joe Chacke said the purpose of a special meeting Wednesday was to update fellow authority members of the desire of Avoca, Hughestown and Dupont boroughs to join the authority.
The four original municipalities that comprise the Northeast Land Bank Authority are Jenkins Township, the City of Pittston and the boroughs of West Pittston and Duryea.
Dupont Mayor Dan Lello was in attendance and is eager to join the authority.
“I’m glad you are considering bringing us on board,” Lello said to the authority members. “We want to be part of this. Everybody has some blighted property in their communities and we want to straighten it out as much as possible.”
Chacke said authority members will make the decision to officially accept or decline the three boroughs as voting members at the next meeting, which is set for Sept. 23.
The land bank officially formed in October 2014 and West Pittston land bank representative and council president Bill Thornton said he welcomes new members, hoping to encourage other municipalities to follow in their footsteps.
“Originally, we didn’t have a lot of interest but, as we developed over the last year, I think people see the value in what we’re trying to do and the legitimacy of having a separate entity outside of just borough council men and women to address blighted property,” said Thornton. “It’s such a large issue in our towns that I think a separate entity is the best way to go.”
The authority also approved changes proposed by West Pittston officials to the Sub-Guarantee Agreement of the $150,000 Local Share Account grant the borough was awarded, stating that if authority members make a mistake on blighted properties, those changes would protect West Pittston borough from having to pay fines or penalties.