A Lower Towamensing Township man continues to ask township officials to step up their efforts on what he believes to be a lack of action against short-term rentals.

Resident Steve Meining expressed his displeasure to township supervisors on Tuesday, which he noted dates back several years, “and yet here we are today.”

“I think it’s time for the board of supervisors to take some firm action and decide how we’re going to get this situation under control,” Meining said. “Resident Ralph (Cortazzo) and I talk about this and it just boggles our minds; we’ve got to get things done.”

Supervisor Michael Takerer reminded Meining that there’s an election coming in November, hinting that Meining should run for office. He currently serves of the planning commission.

Meining said his concern is that there were 17 short-term rentals currently operating illegally in the township.

“I get frustrated,” he said. “Sometimes I feel I’m just here pushing on a string.”

Meining has been asking the township to get the short-term rentals registered and legal per the township’s short-term rental ordinance.

He previously asked if there was any way to develop a simple spreadsheet that would track the status of short-term rentals.

However, township solicitor Jim Nanovic suggested to township code enforcement officer Brent Green that he not go that route.

Meining said his long-term goal is to keep the township under control.

Green previously noted that the township has been trying to keep short-term rentals in the dense population areas of the township.

Green said the intent was to have notice to all adjoining property owners, and added the township was one of the first to come up with regulations.

Nanovic told Green he should be implementing it that way now.

In February, Meining expressed frustration with what he perceived to be a lack of progress on rules for short-term rentals.

The township has been working on an applications procedures list, with a possible amendment to the ordinance to include life safety inspection items.

Meining, who routinely checks on the status of the enforcement of the township’s short-term rental ordinance, said it’s important to keep after the property owners to hold them accountable.

Since the majority of the property owners aren’t local, Green previously said issuing a notice of violation and sending them to the magistrate would be difficult.