Dangerous Buildings, Board of Review

BOARD OF REVIEW - DANGEROUS BUILDINGS MINUTES WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 5:30 p.m. Committee members present: Gary Schnip, Alderwoman Sofee Noblick, Joe East, James Quarto, and Andrew Zeeman Committee members not present: Building Official Jim Troeger, Richard Caron Others Present: Ed Martin, Blight Control, Housing Code Enforcement Official 1. Call to Order: Gary Schnip called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. 2. Determination of a Quorum: It was determined that a quorum is present. 3. Acceptance of Minutes. Upon motion by Jim Quarto, seconded by Joe East, the Board voted unanimously to approve the August 25, 2013 minutes. 4. Communications: None. 5. Blight updates/concerns: a. 556 East Main Street – Ed spoke with Jim Troeger. Jim called the owner. The owner cut the landscape toward the sidewalk. Jim is trying to get them to remove the small brick building. Jim send a letter to the owner to get it done. b. 34-36 Mckinley – Ed Martin states it is on the City cut list. He believes it has been done but if not it will be done soon. It is believed the owner walked away and the bank hasn’t taken it yet. Joe East asks how this became Coop’s job. Ed Martin states that Coop is working with us. Prior to the budget passing we were trying to privatize this type of thing. The City Manager kicked it out of the budget. We were hoping to privatize this so we’re not taking Public Works’ time and manpower. Sofee Noblick states this is why we need priority liens. If we have priority liens we don’t lose out on collecting when a foreclosure is done. The only one who is talking against this is Corporation Counsel. This feature would put our liens ahead of the bank so we get paid and that money can go into paying for this upkeep. Jim Quarto motions, seconded by Andrew Zeeman, to have the committee put together a letter to the Council letting them know that we are behind the efforts to get our blight liens to be priority liens instead of simply judgment liens. The motion passed unanimously. Joe East asks if demo liens are also simple judgment liens. Sofee Noblick replies that if we make this change we would become a have to pay lien. Watch List: c. 24 Harland Place – Ed Martin states the lawn has been cut. Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 09/25/2013 Minutes Page 2 d. 77 Chestnut Street – This is a City property. e. Mt. Pleasant Street – Ed Martin states that the sidewalk is cleared. Ed said Jim wants the structures down by tax time. f. 496 N. Main Street – Ed Martin states that Bank of America has been taking care of it. The lawn is cut and the property cleared. g. Baltic Street – Ed Martin called her. She is unsure what she is going to do h. 17 West Town Street – Ed Martin states that the owner is working but slowly. i. Broadway Barn – Ed Martin states the owner is working on getting it down. She has someone who wants the wood from the demo. j. 274 Prospect Street – Tarp – The tarp is still there. Ed Martin states the hedges were cut. k. Baltic Street (believed to be 107-109) – No update at this time. l. Otrobando – Ed Martin states the small structure is down. They are going to use the wood to repair the red barn. m. 14 or 16 Fountain Street – Ed Martin states it is a single family, owner occupied. The roof is leaking. The inside is a total disgrace. He is going to send someone to check on the owners health, maybe a police officer. The owner doesn’t like to answer the door so not sure if he is still ok. n. 191 Broad Street – Vacant – Ed Martin met the representative from the Bank of America. They have prices to secure it. The bank will take care of it soon. o. 19 Treadway – This refers to (n) above (easier to see damage from here) p. Ed Belli on School Street – Letter attached. Ed Martin went out on September 5th. The owner has a permit for framing. Ed states the owner threatened to walk away if we push too hard. q. The corner of Spaulding and McKinley – Apartments – Ed Martin states it is all cleaned up and has a new roof. r. 126 Broad Street – this is actually 196 Broad – Ed Martin states 5 brothers were contacted. They were sent a letter to secure the property and roof and cut the grass. s. 500 Main Street – This is actually 500 North Main Street – Ed Martin will check into this. t. Sidewalk in front of 88 Fifth Street – Ed Martin states that letters have been sent to the owners. They are on the list for Public Works to cut. It has not been done yet. u. 160 Prospect – Ed Martin states this is done. Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 09/25/2013 Minutes Page 3 v. 117 Broad Street – Ed Martin states the garage is down. Stairs access is closed. Will check exterior of building. 6. Public Comments: None. 7. Other: a. RFP for 105 Chestnut – Sofee Noblick states the owner is contesting the contract breach notice. We are continuing to move forward. b. RFP for 9 - 9 ½ Fountain – Sofee Noblick states that it is not on this Council agenda but it should be on the next agenda (3-5 Fountain will be included). c. Joe East brings up the corner of Warren Street, #34. The owners have been working on it over a year but the contractor walked out on the owner. It still looks very bad. d. Andrew Zeeman brings up fire damage at 7-9 Oak Street. The grass is very overgrown. Ed Martin states he got a call from 11-13 Oak Street. The owner (of 11-13) wants to connect the lots and build there. Ed will call the owner to cut the grass. e. Gary Schnip asks if there is any word on the 8 West Town Street fence and sidewalks. Ed Martin replies he has no information at this time but he will ask Jim Troeger. f. Gary Schnip asks about Andrew’s neighbor. Isn’t that a blight by now? Joe East adds that the property is a pig sty. Andrew Zeeman also adds that there is now a tarp on the roof, too. Ed Martin states he will check into that. Letters have been sent. g. Sofee Noblick brings up the Sanctuary of Love. Jim Quarto agrees we have to get the owner back. Ed Martin states he will invite the owner to the next meeting. We need a structural engineer to check the house for safety. Ed Martin will ask Jim about it. h. 11 Grove Street – fire – This is going to be demo’d. We will then be checking the foundation. i. Board Secretary Christine Averna brings the 2014 meeting schedule to everyone’s attention. Sofee Noblick motioned to accept the proposed schedule with the combined November- December meeting, seconded by Jim Quarto. The motion passed unanimously. 8. Next meeting – the next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, October 23, 2013. 9. Adjournment: Upon motion of Jim Quarto, seconded by Andrew Zeeman, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:23 p.m. Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Averna  BOARD OF REVIEW – DANGEROUS BUILDINGS 2014 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE The monthly meetings for the Board of Review, Dangerous Buildings Committee will be held in the Planning and Neighborhood Services Basement Conference Room at 23 Union Street at 5:30 p.m. on the dates listed below: January 22, 2014 February 26, 2014 March 26, 2014 April 23, 2014 May 28, 2014 June 25, 2014 July 23, 2014 August 27, 2014 September 24, 2014 October 22, 2014 November – NO MEETING December 17, 2014 (third Wednesday of December – (Combined November-December meeting)