Dangerous Buildings, Board of Review

BOARD OF REVIEW - DANGEROUS BUILDINGS MINUTES WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, 2013 5:30 p.m. Committee members present: Gary Schnip, Alderwoman Sofee Noblick, James Quarto, Andrew Zeeman, Joe East, Richard Caron, Building Official Jim Troeger 1. Call to Order: Gary Schnip called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. 2. Determination of a Quorum: It was determined that a quorum is present. 3. Acceptance of Minutes. Upon motion by Sofee Noblick, seconded by Richard Caron, the Board voted unanimously to approve the May 22, 2013 minutes as amended. 4. Communications: None. 5. Blight updates/concerns: a. 556 East Main Street – Jim Troeger sent a letter giving the owner 30 to demolish the small building in the back or he will be subject to fines. b. 105 Stonington Road – Sofee Noblick states the house and garage are down. Jim Troeger states he is waiting on the call to inspect. Andrew Zeeman states everything seems to be gone. c. 34-36 Mckinley – Jim Troeger states he isn’t getting anywhere so he talked to Ed Martin. It needs cleaning up. The owners son now owns it and he walked away from it. Ed Martin sent a letter to Barry of Public Works about the grass needing to be cut. Jim Quarto states the grass was cut yesterday. It didn’t look like it was Public Works doing the mowing. d. 205 Gifford Street Shed – Jim Troeger believes it is gone. Watch List: e. 24 Harland Place – Jim Troeger states he has been staying on it to keep the lawn mowed. f. 7-9 Oak Street Fire – All cleaned up. Remove from watch list. g. 77 Chestnut Street – Per Ed Martin they closed up one end. Sofee Noblick states that the City is looking into doing a demolition bond which would include that. h. Mt. Pleasant Street – Ed is trying to get in touch with Rodney. As of today nothing is done. He will keep in touch with Ed. The owner promised end of spring completion. If Ed has no luck Jim Troeger will send citations. Jim Quarto states that 500 N Main Street used to be owned by John Day. It is vacant and just as bad as 496 N Main. Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 06/26/2013 Minutes Page 2 i. 496 N. Main Street – Ed Martin had no luck getting it mowed. Jim Troeger thinks there’s still a mattress on the property there. Jim Troeger may have to go to the City Manager to get Barry (Public Works) to mow it. Sofee Noblick states they’re thinking of having a revolving RFP with contractors to mow properties as needed/requested. It is being discussed at the Public Works meeting. Jim Quarto asks if this would incur fines for the property owners. Sofee Noblick responds that if the City can re-arrange the blight liens to be judgment liens we become a priority lien. It is hoped that this will self-fund the cleanups. j. Prentice Street Shed – Gone. Remove from the list. k. Asylum Street – The roof is on. Remove from the list. l. Baltic Street – The tarp is still there. Jim Troeger will continue to watch it. m. 27 Sherman Street – Done. Remove from the list. n. 17 West Town Street – Jim Troeger sent the owner a letter. We expected to see something done by now. He gave him until the end of July to finish the roof or fines will be re-instated . o. 146 Wightman Avenue – The owner has been issued a building permit. The owner was going to save the deck but it has collapsed into the basement. Gary Schnip states he cuts the grass. 6. Public Comments: None. 7. Other: a. RFP for 105 Chestnut – The owner has been sent a letter stating that since he has defaulted on his contract the City is going to take it back. There is going to be a meeting for the 2nd or 3rd week of July to talk about this and several other properties (including 9 – 9 ½ Fountain). b. RFP for 9 - 9 ½ Fountain – See above. c. Jim Quarto saw a draft of an RFP for Reid & Hughes. It is excellently done. Rich Caron believes what they’re proposing is higher end. We’re not going to get that in Downtown. Sofee Noblick states that the idea there is to tell them what we expect. What targets we are looking for. Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 06/26/2013 Minutes Page 3 d. Gary Schnip brings up the Broadway Barn. He will find out. e. Gary Schnip brings up the Barn Structures at the end of Otrobando. Jim Troeger has forwarded it to enforcement. They’ve been unable to catch them in the act. Joe East states the owner claims a group of buddies who like to work on their cars there and they’re not doing it for money. f. Rich Caron brings up 126 Broad – A tree fell on the garage. Jim Troeger states that Ed Martin is watching it and it is secured. Rich Caron states that it is not secured. You have to view it from the back of the property. The shed roof is in. g. Sofee Noblick brings up 274 Prospect Street. There is a blue tarp on it. She sent it to Ed Martin today. 8. Next meeting – the next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, July 24, 2013. 9. Adjournment: Upon motion of Sofee Noblick, seconded by Jim Quarto, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Averna