Dangerous Buildings, Board of Review

BOARD OF REVIEW - DANGEROUS BUILDINGS MINUTES WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18, 2013 5:30 p.m. Committee members present: Gary Schnip, Alderwoman Sofee Noblick, Joe East, and Andrew Zeeman Committee members not present: Richard Caron, James M. Quarto Others Present: 1. Call to Order: Gary Schnip called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. 2. Determination of a Quorum: It was determined that a quorum is present. 3. Acceptance of Minutes. Alderwoman Sofee Noblick motioned, seconded by Andrew Zeeman, to approve the October 23, 2013 minutes. There was discussion about the minutes and amendments were proposed. Alderwoman Sofee Noblick motioned, seconded by Joe East, and the minutes were unanimously approved as amended. 4. Communications: None. 5. Blight updates/concerns: a. 556 East Main Street – Jim Troeger states this property is still the same. He doesn’t think there has been any more illegal entry. It is still blighted. The owner still hopes to do something. Also, the sidewalk has not been shoveled. b. 34-36 Mckinley – Jim Troeger states there has been no activity there. There are no tenants. This can be removed from the list. Watch List: c. 24 Harland Place – Jim Troeger states the owner started working. They put in new windows but they don’t meet the energy code. They were ordered to remove them. Since then there has been no new activity. d. Mt. Pleasant Street behind Old Tymes – Jim Troeger states there has been no other change other than the sidewalk being cleaned. The owner doesn’t have funds to do anything. Jim Troeger will send a letter to ask for a status update. e. 107 Baltic Street – Jim Troeger states the status is the same as d above. f. Baltic Street Tarp – Jim Troeger states the tarp is still there and he has no other information. g. 17 West Town Street – Jim Troeger states that he will not plead with the owner any more. There is an $8,700 blight lien on it. The owners’ attorney called asking what he can to. Jim Troeger told him that the owner can fix the place. The fines are also continuing to amass, unless the owner appeals it. Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 12/18/2013 Minutes Page 2 h. Broadway Barn – It is settling. Jim Troeger has spoken to the owner several times. George sent a violation letter. The owner promised someone wanted the wood and would take it down. Nothing has happened thus far. i. 274 Prospect Street – Tarp – Jim Troeger states the tarp is still there. j. 16 Fountain Street – The house was hit by a car. Jim Troeger has been continually talking with the owners and Leeann Gomes. Leann was going to try to find them senior housing. Jim asked Leeann to keep trying. It is imperative that we get the owners out. k. 117 Broad Street – Jim Troeger states the garage is down. Ed Martin stated that it is secure and vacant. l. 195 Broad Street – Vacant/Bank owned – Jim Troeger states it needs a roof. He spoke with the Charles Brown Real Estate agency and they are working on getting prices. m. 152 Broad Street – Same for garage as (l) above. n. Ed Belli on School Street – Jim Troeger states the owner has done some work but it is still very slow going. o. The corner of Spaulding and Broad – Apartments – Jim Troeger will look into this. He believes Ed Martin is on it. p. 88 Fifth Street – Sidewalk – This is all done. q. 160 Prospect Street – Corner of Central and 5th – This is all cleaned up. r. 11 Grove Street – Jim Troeger states this has been demolished. All the debris is gone. The wall still has to go. 6. Public Comments: None. 7. Other: a. RFP for 105 Chestnut – Sofee Noblick states there is no start date. Corporation Counsel Mike Driscoll is working on it. b. Prioritizing the Blight Lien Ordinance – Sofee Noblick states there was a meeting to discuss this. There are a few layers to it. If we do this blight lien priority vs judgment lien we have to have a blight ordinance. Joe East states there is a model we will try to adapt. Sofee Noblick states another part would be the need for a hearing committee. We (the Dangerous Buildings Committee) would become the hearing committee. They will be meeting again January 10, 2014 at 10:00 am. c. Gary Schnip brings up 8 West Town Street – Sidewalk and fence – Jim Troeger spoke with Barry twice. The Code of Ordinances puts this on him (Barry/Public Works). If someone fell who would be liable? Andy Zeeman believes it is the owner. Sofee Noblick replies the City Board of Review – Dangerous Buildings 12/18/2013 Minutes Page 3 can transfer the liability to the owner if it isn’t state property. Gary Schnip adds that there is 10’ of fence in disrepair. Jim Troeger states we can go after them for that. d. Gary Schnip brings up the Commerce Club – Rich Hamar – Building – Joe East states Ed was going to go after him for blight and property maintenance. Jim Troeger will get Ed back on this. 8. Next meeting – the next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, January 22, 2014 Alderwoman Sofee Noblick motions to change the meeting time for all future meetings to 5:00 so the subsequent meetings don’t start so late. Joe East seconded and the motion passed unanimously. 9. Adjournment: Upon motion of Sofee Noblick, seconded by Andrew Zeeman, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:17 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 5:00 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)