Borough Zoning Officer Announces Resignation

is in need of a new zoning and codes enforcement officer, following the resignation of Joe Chernaskey from that position.

Chernaskey's resignation--effective March 16--was formally accepted at Monday's Hellertown Borough Council meeting.

Councilwoman Gail Nolf called his decision to step down a "loss" for the borough, but council members said they hope he will be happy in his new role as a housing inspector for the city of Bethlehem.

"We wish you the best, Joe," councilman Tom Rieger said to him.

Chernaskey, a Lower Saucon Township resident, spent two decades working for the Bethlehem Fire Department before accepting the zoning and codes enforcement officer position three years ago.

After the meeting, he said his decision to step down from that position was not an easy one, and came only after several weeks of rumination.

In the end, it was partly because of his strong ties to the nearby municipality that he decided to accept the housing inspector job.

"I'm a city guy," he said, adding that he grew up in Bethlehem and still has many friends who work for the city.

Chernaskey said he is also looking forward to focusing on performing residential inspections, which were just one of a number of duties he had as the borough's zoning and codes officer.

"I'm not the kind of guy that can only give you 20 percent," he said, adding that at the borough he has done "about five different jobs."

The transition to being a housing inspector should be a relatively straightforward one, he said, because he is already familiar with the system and has worked with many of his soon-to-be co-workers in the past.

However, Chernaskey said he will miss the workplace camaraderie he has enjoyed with borough colleagues--including police chief Robert Shupp and public works director Tom Henshaw.

He said he will also miss helping the "great people" of Hellertown, many of whom he's gotten to know over the past few years.

Chernaskey said his first day with the city will be March 19.

In the meantime, Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline will be leading the search for his replacement, it was announced.