A property at 130 S. Ninth St. in Coplay has been declared uninhabitable.

Action taken by code enforcement officer Ron Helman was the subject of last week's council workshop and Tuesday night's meeting.

The property belongs to Karen Kratzer Shields, who is a member of the Coplay Public Library Board and the Coplay Feral Cat Committee. She owns the property with her sister, Ann Marie Corradetti, according to Helman and Lehigh County tax records.

Helman told The Press after Tuesday's meeting he issued a Notice of Condemnation Nov. 27 due to "unsanitary" conditions.

"It was overwhelming – the smell, debris and garbage," Helman said.

He inspected the property as a result of complaints from other residents.

"Somebody took me inside and showed it to me," he said. He did not name the person but said Shields was in the hospital at the time. Helman said her sister, who is the home's co-owner, lives out of town.

"They're not allowed to move back in until they get a [certificate of occupancy] inspection," Helman said.

A letter has been sent to Shields, said Helman, adding he discussed it verbally with Corradetti.

Helman said this is not the first time for a code violation at the property.

"I took her to the magistrate once before for the same offense and she was found guilty," he said.

He could take her to the magistrate again, he said, adding that if she were found guilty a second time, the fine would more than double. "I don't think incurring any more fines would help."

The property was scheduled to go up for sheriff sale Nov. 22 for delinquent school taxes. The case, which was continued from July 26, has been continued again until Feb. 28, 2014, according to Lehigh County tax records.

Councilman Charles Sodl has said he believes the condition of the property is connected with Shields' work with the Coplay Feral Cat Committee.

However, Feral Cat Committee Chairman Bill Leiner Jr., also a borough councilman, said the work of the committee is separate from these code enforcement issues.