An emotional account from a township firefighter and supervisor sparked renewed discussion about adopting the International Property Maintenance Code during the latest Lehigh Township board meeting.

Supervisor Janet Sheats, who also serves as a township firefighter, described a recent emergency call that revealed dangerous living conditions inside a home.

“We had an EMS call at a home in the township,” Sheats said. “Trying to enter the home was difficult. We had to take wood to stabilize the porch roof at the entrance. Once inside, the holes were so big in the floor our team needed to put more wood to just get to the patient. There was a hole in the roof about 15 feet by 5 feet.”

Sheats said the couple living there were in poor health.

“One of them had not moved from the sofa for at least six months. Not for a bath or the bathroom. It was just so sad that they were living in those conditions,” she said.

Their dog was removed from the home and taken to Furry Feet Animal Rescue due to neglect. At one point, Sheats became tearful as she addressed the board.

“How can someone get to this point and no one noticed?” she said. “It is just really sad. We are all mandated reporters. They were not safe in that home.”

Residents attending the meeting questioned why neighbors had not reported the situation.

“It was reported,” Zoning Officer Roxann Colfer said. “The previous officer did not check out the complaint.”

Sheats said the incident underscores the need to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code, which establishes minimum standards for maintaining residential and nonresidential properties and focuses on the health, safety and welfare of occupants and the public.

Board President Mike Jones said he remains opposed.

“I voted no before and will again,” Jones said. “Those regulations say if you have just chipped paint somewhere you can be cited.”

Resident and firefighter John Knoblach suggested an alternative approach.

“We need an outreach board,” Knoblach said. “A board that can help find what would be needed to assist when residents are in those kinds of conditions like that. Maybe get someone from Lowe’s that could help, general contractors, and anyone in the township that can help. There are many agencies that can help.”

Several residents voiced support for the idea.

Township solicitor Dave Backenstoe and Colfer said that they will review the property maintenance code to determine whether it can be adapted to better fit the township’s needs.