Politics & Government

East Windsor Officials to Start Using Property Maintenance Code

The board of selectmen told the building official to contact people who are violating the ordinance.

 

As they work to strengthen the town’s property maintenance code, East Windsor selectmen Tuesday assigned the duty of  investigating complaints to the town building official.

The selectmen asked Building Official Rand Stanley to begin investigating and then contacting property owners who may be violating the town’s ordinance.

“I work for you,” Stanley said. “I follow your direction. That’s what I do.”

Stanley reminded the selectmen that the duties would be on top of his work inspecting the building of the new Wal-Mart on Route 5, a proposed 455-unit apartment complex that has not yet been approved by the town, and other projects.

Selectman Alan Baker said the town’s property maintenance code calls for the building official or his designee to enforce the ordinance.

“We’re looking at how to get it working,” Baker said.

Stanley suggested looking into hiring a part-time employee to help with the enforcement of the ordinance.  The selectmen questioned where would the money to fund the part-time person come from.

First Selectwoman Denise Menard said Stanley may be able to use money in a fund for consulting help for the building department.

Menard said the town can first send out letters telling violators of the ordinance to clean up their properties. She said her office will take complaints and then give them to the building official to address.

Sam Johnson, a Hill Farms Drive resident, told the board that he’d read the town’s property maintenance code and it does give officials the authority to handle blight problems.

“I don’t think it has any teeth in it because it doesn’t have fines,” Johnson said.

Menard said the board needs the town attorney to advise how to add teeth to the ordinance.

“At least for the time being, we have a remedy,” Menard said.

When asked what will happen if property owners don’t comply with the letters, Stanley said they will deal with those situations when they come.

“The process is in place,” Stanley said. “If it takes me down the rabbit hole so be it.”


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