Blight Ordinance Sent Back to Public Safety Committee

After changes were made to the proposal Monday morning, the Town Council decided to send it back to the .

Earlier in the day, Public Safety Committee Chairman Joe Kochanek said changes that were procedural in nature were made to the proposed ordinance. However, Monday night was the first time that the council had been presented with the changes.

“This was done in the best interest of the public,” Kochanek said about the changes.

The purpose of the blight ordinance is to remove unsightly buildings and make those properties in town safe while avoiding bringing down the values of neighboring pieces of land, Kochanek stated previously. 

The council unanimously decided to send the proposal back to the Public Safety Committee for discussion and review. There will be another public hearing on the ordinance at a future Town Council meeting.

Even though changes were made to the ordinance, the council still wanted to hear from the public. Maurice Wyman of Pratt Street was one of two residents who spoke during the 10-minute public hearing.

Wyman opposed the building of Cedar Hollow condominiums, but stated that they have been good neighbors until the tennis courts on the property were closed. He wanted the tennis courts, which were closed about six years ago because no one used them, cleaned and taken care of. 

“That is just a mess for rats and everything else,” Wyman said. He added that the courts were cleaned previously after he contacted the owner of the property.

Councilor Timothy Moriarty agreed with Wyman and said the property needs to be taken care of.

“We will do whatever we can,” he said. Town Manager Barbara Gilbert said she would contact the proper authorities on the issue.

Robert Ludwig of Washington Street was curious to know why the previous blight ordinance had not been enforced as he felt it should have been. One property that he felt was blighted was the Foundry, which he felt money should have been collected from. A property owner can be fined $100 per day after he or she is cited by the town for blight ordinance violations.

“I am hoping that the new ordinance will address that, but will be enforced on all the properties that are in blighted conditions,” he said.

Todd E. Cusano also sent a letter to the council and though he supported the ordinance, he was .

"I am also wary that the town may not equally enforce the blight ordinance against “offenders” of it, which could also land the town in court," Cusano said in his letter.

The proposed blight ordinance can be read at the following link.