NORTH MANCHESTER - The North Manchester plan commission proposed an ordinance Monday requiring a permit for property demolition.

The commission was in favor of the ordinance following a recent property struggle.

"In view of the long saga with the Seiler property," Bill Hix, plan commission president, said, he had talked with town council president Don Rinearson about the ordinance.

The permit would put a time limit on demolition completion. The commission said a fixed number of days for demolition would be determined on the building situation.

The permit would be for commercial buildings, but residential buildings could be included, too.

The permit would be "strong enough to have penalties," said Bernie Ferringer, North Manchester's building commissioner.

Questions were raised about defining types of buildings, numbers of days to complete demolition and penalties.

Other communities have similar permits in place. Jim Garman, plan commission member, said he would "investigate" those permits. The town attorney, Charles Tiede, would draw up the ordinance. The commission set no time to have the permit ordinance finished.

The North Manchester Plan Commission members are: president Bill Hix, vice president Brad Yoder, James Garman, Dennis Ayres, Laura Rager, Homer Hoover, Joanna Strode and Noah Smith. Town manager is Dan Hannaford, building commissioner is Bernie Ferringer, secretary to the commissioner is Bev Slack, town attorney is Charles Tiede and public works superintendent is John Mugford. [[In-content Ad]]