FIRST WARD DISTRICT JUSTICE SUE MACK IN CONJUCTION
WITH THE CITY OF ERIE CODE ENFORCEMENT ANNOUNCE
THE FIRST WARD HOME CHORE PROGRAM

Erie, Pa – First Ward District Justice Sue Mack and Mayor Richard Filippi held a press conference July 8, 2004 at 10 a.m. at 721 E. 4th Street to announce the First Ward Home Chore Program.

The First Ward Home Chore Program, made possible by a grant from the Erie Community Foundation and in cooperation with the Bayfront Eastside Taskforce (B.E.S.T), is available to elderly home owners who are physically and/or financially unable to maintain their properties. Applicants must be income-eligible and obtain a referral from District Justice Mack or their Code Enforcement Officer and return it to them upon completion. BEST determines the applicant’s eligibility.

The Home Chore Program can help with such things as:

• Minor repairs and painting to home accessory structures
• Removal of junk and debris
• Basic lawn care

The work for the Home Chore Program, by approval of Judge Cunningham, will be provided by the Erie County Adult Probation Community Service Program, by offenders performing their court-ordered community service under the supervision of a work crew leader.

Judge Cunningham added, “This is an expansion of our efforts in the court system to require offenders to give back something to the community. The beauty of this program is that the recipients of this help are those who are often victimized by criminal activity. Also, these recipients are in legitimate need of these services. This program provides a win-win situation for our community at very little taxpayer expense.”

The program, which has already completed two Home Chore projects, was created by District Justice Mack, Sue Moyer, B.E.S.T Executive Director, John Reitinger and Peggy Jordan, City of Erie Code Enforcement, Georgia Hill, Erie County Adult Probation Community Service Program Coordinator and Patrick Gehrlein, City of Erie Bureau of Property Maintenance Resource Manager. Business partners for the project are Janitor’s Supply, which is allowing the construction of a storage building on their property, Krause’s Department Store and Lake Front Mower.

Mayor Richard Filippi said, “I’m excited about this program, it’s just another successful piece of our Neighborhoods First program. It’s community partnership such as this that will help not only our citizens but our entire neighborhoods.”

The pilot program could expand into other Ward’s if successful.

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