Dangerous Buildings, Board of Review

BOARD OF REVIEW - DANGEROUS BUILDINGS MINUTES Wednesday, September 27, 2017 5:00 PM Committee members present: Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr., James Heist, Sofee Noblick James Quarto, Gary Schnip and Darryl Wickham Committee members absent: Building Official James Troeger Others Present: Alderwoman Stacy Gould, Blight Officer Dan Coley Citizens Present: None 1. Call to Order: Gary Schnip called the meeting to order at 5:19 PM. 2. Determination of a Quorum: It was determined that a quorum was present. 3. Acceptance of Minutes: On a motion by Alderman Braddock, seconded by Jim Heist, the minutes of July 26, 2017 were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Public Comment: None 5. Communications: None 6. Blight updates/concerns: a) 62 North Main Street: Dan Coley reported no progress. Citations have been issued. Due to the lapse in time, the citation letter will be reissued. Dan has inspected the site. Some brush has been cut but the materials the owner brought to the site are still sitting there. Dan is proceeding with blight fines on property. The committee agreed to place these liens and seek action. b) 554-556 East Main Street: Dan reported this is still in court. It has been continued. c) 337-341 Main Street (YMCA): Dan reported the property has been re-secured. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has cleared the sides to make it more open. Nothing else has changed. d) 26 Elijah Street: Dan reported it has been boarded up. The City is proceeding with foreclosure for taxes. e) 109 Baltic Street: Dan reported this property has been approved for demolition. Yvette from Neighborhood Services called Mel Weiss today to let him know the permit was issued. f) 13 Otrobando Barn: The barn fell down towards the interior of the property, not toward the street. It can be remove from blight list. g) Jordan’s Retaining Wall: Dan reported that work is on hold. Sofee will reach out to Barbara Jordan regarding the wall and the equipment sitting near it. 6. Watch List: a) 24 River Avenue: Dan reported this is vacant and under bank foreclosure. This will be watched. b) 50 Freeman Avenue (fire damage): Dan reported it has been cleaned up. It is not a blight issue at this time. This will be watched. c) 160 West Thames Street (fire damage): Dan reported they are doing the siding and roof. 7. Foreclosure in Progress: a) 61 Lincoln Avenue: Alderwoman Gould reported no progress has been made. b) 29 Boswell Avenue: Dan reported that the health department was there today and it is vacant. There are signs of someone working on it. This property is an unsecured health and safety hazard. Alderwoman Gould noted that property taxes have not been paid. The City does not own it. She will call Attorney Driscoll’s office to clarify whether the City can board it up. 8. City Owned Properties a) Reid and Hughes: Alderwoman Gould reported the developer has 90 days to secure the building. Dan called DPW regarding glass breaking and falling on the sidewalk. Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) is interested in having the plywood boards decoratively painted. Alderwoman Gould will follow up. b) 88-90 Boswell Avenue: Dan reported the demolition is complete. This property can be removed from City Owned Properties list. c) 270 West Thames Street: Sofee noted that the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) is working with Tighe and Bond on environmental studies on this building. d) 13 Baltic Street: Alderwoman Gould reported the property still has title issues. There is no clear title. There was no title insurance. If five years go by, and no one comes forward to say they have a claim on the property, then Chicago Title would assume a clear title. DPW secured a few windows. Potential buyers cannot accept a quit claim. It was decided to have Alderwoman Gould contact Fred Allen about ways to move this forward. e) 196 Yantic Street (The Artform Building): Jim Q. reported the brick building is gone. The granite building is still there. The granite building roof and floors have caved in. Jim Q. reported RDA has discussed it. He will follow-up with City Planner Deanna Rhodes. f) 11 Lake Street: Dan reported the City took possession of this property. The Committee had issued a letter to the City Manager recommending demolition. Gary will resend the letter and copy Alderwoman Gould. g) 31-33 Cliff Street (behind Chelsea Groton Bank): Alderwoman Gould will follow-up with Michael Rauh at Chelsea Groton Bank.  h) 17/19 Stonington Road: Alderwoman Gould reported the City owns the lot but not the mobile home. Renters are living in the mobile home on the property. She will follow-up with Attorney Michael Driscoll. 9. Other: a) Public Works Committee (PWC) Report: Alderman Braddock reported Amy Wickless reported to the PWC. b) 130 Prospect Street: Alderman Braddock reported he has contacted the abutter. Sofee suggested the lot be added legally to the abutter’s property at closing. The Committee agreed. Alderman Braddock will check with Attorney Driscoll. c) 29 7th Street (alleyway): Dan sent a letter regarding cars and transmissions. He will go back to the property. d) Norwich Hospital Site: Dan reported work has been done that has not required permits. He also noted that Deanna has spoken to him. e) 158 Prospect Street: Dan reported he sent a letter this week for the items in the front. She has cleaned the back. f) 458 Norwich Avenue (fire damage): This has been cleaned up. This property can be removed from the list. g) 209 Boswell Avenue: Dan noted that Greg Grippo is cleaning up the brush. Dan also mentioned he will continue to monitor the property, including the garage doors. h) Norwich Harbor: Dan reported two boats are in the parking lot. Also the building has been hit. Darryl reported the boats were abandoned. i) 751 North Main Street: Sofee noted receipt of a proposed project plan. The Committee agreed to convene a meeting of the 751 North Main Street Committee on October 25, 2017 concurrent with the Board of Review schedule. Gary has the Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports on the property. Taxes have not been paid for an extended period of time. Jim Q. will reach out to Deanna to discuss her input. Alderwoman Gould will follow-up with Town Clerk Betsy Barrett for a resolution to update committee membership to add Alderman Braddock, Jim Heist and Darryl Wickham. j) 482-492 Norwich Avenue (fire damage): Dan will follow-up. k) 347 Central Avenue: Sofee brought this to the committee’s attention. It is vacant. This is now city-owned. The committee agreed to do a walk-though on October 3, 2017 at 3 PM. l) 4 Stonecliff Lane: Jim Q. brought this to the committee’s attention. Dan reported some of the items outside the home are considered blight. Many of the items are not blight since they are designed to be used outdoors. The piles of wood are also not covered by property maintenance code in the city. Letters have been sent to the owner. The Zoning Officer is also involved with the property. This has also been referred to the Fire Marshal for the quantity of wood. Dan will follow-up on the oil tank. 10. Public Comment: None 11. Next meeting: The next regular meeting is Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 5 PM. 12. Adjournment: On a motion by Jim Heist, seconded by Sofee Noblick, the Board of Review unanimously adjourned at 6:36 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Melinda Wilson Recording Secretary