SUNBURY - The second of three meetings of the Northumberland County Blight Task Force was held Thursday at the Northumberland County Administration Building.
The task force, which met from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., was formed to address the best strategies to combat blighted properties in the county's municipalities and secure state money to fund the initiative.
Coordinator Edward Christiano, Northumberland County Housing Authority executive director, said preventative strategies to stop blight before it happens was the main focus of discussion Thursday, and each strategy was rated by representatives of the county communities.
Moving forward, Christiano said the task force will hire an intern to coordinate with local municipalities and code enforcement officers to identify specific blighted properties, and to assist in putting together an application to submit to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for funding.
Once the third meeting is held, a plan will be officially developed so local municipalities have a strategic plan to address blight in their communities, Christiano said.
A fourth meeting will be held towhich all local municipalities will be invited and debriefed on the outcome of the series of meetings, he said.
Approximately 20 people from various municipalities attended the meeting, including state Reps. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) and Kurt Masser (R-107) and state Sen. John Gordner (R-27)
A presentation was also given by consultant Christopher Gulotta, of The Gulotta Group, Carlisle.
The next meeting will be held at 11 a.m. July 13 at the administration building.