BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners on Monday tabled introduction of a new property maintenance ordinance containing parts of the International Property Maintenance Code so they can review the measure.

The proposed ordinance is a combination of parts of the current ordinance and part of the International Property Maintenance Code, said zoning officer Jesse Hines.

Sections of the current ordinance that address high grass, solid waste, junk vehicles and unsafe structures will be replaced by sections of the international code, Hines said.

A new section addressing swimming pool maintenance has been added, he said.

Hines asked the commissioners to set the maximum height grass can be allowed to grow before a property owner can be cited.

The maximum height is 18 inches in the current ordinance. Hines recommended lowering that to 12 or 14 inches.

That rule currently applies to developed lots and not vacant lots, he said.

The proposed junk vehicle section would prohibit residents from parking inoperable, unlicensed, unregistered and wrecked vehicles outside.

Fire code compliance inspections would be expanded to include extinguisher and fire suppression systems.

In other business, commissioners commended Butler High School senior Joe Atkinson for the work he did as the township's first student representative.

“I have not only a major understanding of local government, I have a major interest in local government,” Atkinson said. “Thank you for giving me a platform to speak for the students. Thank you for making me a better person in my community.”

The commissioners said there will be two student representatives next school year starting in August or September.

In unrelated business, the commissioners:

n Scheduled a hearing into a request from Sheetz to transfer a liquor license to its store on Route 8 at Vogel Road for 7 p.m. June 17. The license is currently owned by Lernerville Speedway in Buffalo Township.

n Accepted the resignation of treasurer and office assistant Marcie Love.

n Awarded a $711,892 road resurfacing contract to Shields Asphalt Paving of Bakerstown.

n Awarded a $59,237 contract to line a storm sewer pipe under East Brady Street with a resin-based liner to seal the interior of the pipe to Insight Pipe Contracting of Harmony.

n Tabled a request from a resident of Tudor Drive to have ornamental street lights installed along the road.