Rutledge Borough Council discussed a proposal from the building committee to revise the escalation process for code enforcement activities. Without a clearly defined escalation policy, code enforcement issues have gone straight to court, resulting in financial penalties as high as $400. In the new process, homeowners in violation of the borough ordinance for things like clearing snow from sidewalks, keeping grass trimmed under six inches and other property maintenance issues will first receive a courtesy notification. If the issue is not addressed within 24 hours or a week depending on the safety risks posed by the issues, the borough will proceed with a series of three formal notices beginning with a $50 fine, then $100, and finally $150 before escalating to the court system. The fine amounts are based on what nearby municipalities charge for similar offenses.
Source: The Swarthmorean; 6/5/2026