By Larry Holt

The Orange Leader

City of West Orange approved a proposal to waive the lien held on the demolished property at 903 Flint Street contingent upon Jay and Mary Odom purchasing the property, paying back taxes, and reimbursing the city $500 in fees the city paid as part of the demolition process before they can develop the property, during the Monday evening meeting.

It took $4,200 to demolish the structure and that cost was paid for by a grant from the Stark Foundation which does not need to be paid back by the City of West Orange.

In other business Haven Allison was denied a variance to Ordinance No. 302-C to construct a HUD code manufactured home in a portion of the city that does not allow HUD code manufactured homes.

After discussing the matter, council members led by Mayor Roy McDonald agreed to hold a public workshop to provide guidance to the city attorney and code enforcement officer in writing a new ordinance that would allow construction of applicable HUD code manufactured homes in certain areas of the city within Flood Plain A, as opposed to providing variances to the existing code. Date of the public workshop will be advertised soon.

McDonald announced all non-emergency departments of the City of West Orange will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, November 23-24, 2017.

Also, the City of West Orange Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 4, at city hall.

The next council meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, December 11, 2017.