Jim Thorpe’s governing body remained split last week on whether it would require contractors to register with the borough or be licensed before doing business in the municipality.

Borough Council has been kicking around different ways the last several months to ensure residents get proper permits and that borough codes and ordinances are followed when projects are completed. The latest efforts are focused on making sure contractors are aware of the permits the municipality requires.

“The purpose of registering contractors would be to make sure they are aware of the processes we have here in Jim Thorpe for certain type of work,” Councilman Michael Yeastedt said last week. “We’re not condoning their work or recommending them, we’re just making sure they know what is required to do work here.”

Several borough officials, however, are concerned that by registering contractors or requiring they get a license, it would insinuate to residents the borough is backing that company’s work.

Borough Manager Maureen Sterner told council that its attorney, James Nanovic, said municipalities can require contractors to obtain a license, but it often serves little purpose.

“What (Nanovic) told us is that a contractor obtaining a license essentially only means they have insurance,” Sterner said. “And if they have a license, they will flaunt it as if the borough has approved them. At the end of the day, it’s still the resident’s responsibility to get the proper permits when work is being done.”

While that may be true, Councilman Michael Rivkin said, registering contractors might give residents more of a leg to stand on if the work is shoddy and they need to file a complaint.

“It may give our residents more of a paper trail should they need to try and get restitution,” Rivkin said. “Taking this step may dissuade fly-by-night companies from operating here.”

Councilwoman Jessica Crowley said she would not support making contractors register in order to do work in Jim Thorpe.

“I’m not good with that,” she said. “If a person is using a fly-by-night company, it’s probably because they can’t afford to do something the way it’s supposed to be done. They’re just going to look for another way to save money. I’m not in the business of bothering people and their personal life.”

While he said he’s not in favor of anything that would imply the borough is condoning the work of specific contractors, Councilman Jay Miller told his colleagues he would get behind any effort to improve fire prevention efforts.

Restaurant inspections

Rivkin said he’d like to see the borough take a small step forward by requiring inspections of business’ fire suppression systems and other safety factors such as working smoke and fire alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

“We could start with restaurants,” Rivkin said. “We already have a health inspector going in there and it would add maybe another 20 minutes to their job. If you were a responsible restaurant owner and doing what you’re supposed to be doing, why wouldn’t you be in favor of this?”

Crowley said there could be other reasons a restaurant would oppose the inspection.

“It could be because it’s expensive and they don’t want that extra cost,” she said. “Maybe they just don’t feel they have to. I’m uncomfortable with the way some restaurant owners have been painted as responsible versus irresponsible based on whether they are doing this already.”

Rivkin agreed to obtain facts and figures on what the inspections might look like and bring them back to council.

“I think we should further this part of the discussion,” Miller said. “I understand the costs associated with running a business, I do, but you’ll get me all day and all night on fire safety.”