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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 8:21 PM Monday, December 14, 2009

TRENTON — The city has hired a new part-time code enforcement officer who is a retired deputy from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Bill Jones, of Wayne Twp, recently joined the city and will work out of the city’s Public Works Department about 20 hours a week Monday through Friday.

He is the city’s first official part-time code enforcement officer. Prior to that the duties were divided between Robert Leichman, the city’s service director, and Megan Statt Blake, the city’s zoning administrator.

“It’s at least a full part-time job right now. We’re hoping to move Bill to full-time in six months or so if council would allow it,” Leichman said.

In his new job, he said Jones is responsible for not only being reactive to code violations, but proactive.

“Code violations could be anything from a boat, a camper or RV (recreational vehicle) parked in the front yard, it could be tall grass complaints, could be any property maintenance issues — gutters, shingles or siding falling off — or junk vehicles,” he said.

“There’s others, but those are probably the biggest right there.”

Leichman said Jones is trying to take a proactive approach and go out and meet people in the community face to face.

“He’s going to let them know who he is and what he’s doing. A lot of times its education. People don’t know they’re in violation of city codes or city ordinances,” he said.

“So what we’re trying to do at this point is take a softer approach and stop by in person to see them and let them know that, hey, you may or may not have known this, but there is a city ordinance on the books that prohibits this, and most of the time if you treat people like you want to be treated, we get pretty good results.”

Leichman said if Jones stops by a home and nobody is there, he can leave a door hanger on a resident’s door and ask them to contact him about a possible violation that might be occurring on their property.

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