Keeping things looking nice in a small town or a larger city, for that matter, is not easy. It takes homeowners with pride in their properties, and sometimes it takes laws or ordinances regarding the appearance of lawns or houses and prohibiting the accumulation of junk.

In Callery recently, borough officials decided it was time to clean things up. With that in mind, Sean Grams was hired as the borough's first code enforcement officer.

In an effort to increase compliance with ordinances regarding the appearance of properties, Grams sent letters to eight to 10 property owners about violations at their residences. When no property owners responded to the first letter, Grams sent a second letter, this time specifying a 30-day limit for compliance and a willingness on the part of the borough to work with property owners.

Most property owners have complied, but a few problems remain.

Commenting on progress to date, Grams said, "Things are being moved and cleaned up. It's happening."And that's exactly what borough officials had in mind when they hired Grams with a mandate to enforce the codes and get things cleaned up.

According to council vice president Chester Ritter, there still are complaints from residents about rules on burning garbage, storing junk cars and campers, as well as lawn-condition and appearance rules.

Most likely, allowing code violations for years led some people to believe they could do whatever they wanted with the appearance of their property. Benign neglect is a surefire way to steadily declining conditions. Even one unkempt property can become an eyesore and an irritant to other residents. And it might suggest to other residents that they can let their places go. It even can reduce the value of nearby properties or possibly pose health and safety risks.

As is being demonstrated in Callery, a sudden change regarding enforcement can create problems and anger some residents. But, over time, everyone in the borough will benefit from the results and improved appearance of the community.

If there are particular codes that residents feel are unreasonable, they can work with the borough council to revise those rules. But at this point, it appears that only a small minority of residents have a problem with the codes being enforced.

It's also appropriate that Grams and the borough provide some flexibility when working with residents trying to come into compliance. For those few people who continue to flout the law, the council should try to work with them, but at some point will be justified in taking steps that include legal and financial penalties.

There are more than a few municipalities that can learn something from Callery about enforcing codes in an effort to improve and maintain the appearance of the community — for the benefit of everyone.

Code enforcement is not always easy, as Grams and Callery officials have discovered. But it's worth the effort.