Commissioners approve modest deed, mortgage recording fee to fight blight
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SCRANTON — Lackawanna County commissioners adopted an ordinance establishing a demolition fund to fight blight and imposing a $15 fee on recorded deeds and mortgages to finance the demolitions. Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak approved and endorsed the plan Wednesday despite concerns raised by the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors, which shares the goal of fighting blight but objected to the $15 fee while acknowledging the proposal “comes from a genuine desire” to address a serious challenge. The adopted ordinance establishes a dedicated county demolition fund administered by the Lackawanna County Land Bank under state Act 152 of 2016, which authorizes counties to establish such funds for the purpose of razing blighted structures and impose an up to $15…
