Windsor Locks Selectmen to Ask Finance Board to Fund Part-time Blight Enforcement Official

The Windsor Locks Board of Selectmen this week decided to formally ask the board of finance to fund the hiring of a part-time employee to administer the town’s new blight ordinance.

Residents on September 14 approved the revised blight ordinance, which officials said better defines what is considered blight and make it easier for complaints to be handled. On Tuesday, selectmen voted 2-1 to ask for support for the new position.

“It will be far more encompassing than the previous ordinance,” First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr., said.

During the August 2 board of selectman meeting, Selectman Joseph R. Calsetta proposed that someone be hired to set up the process of handling blight complaints if resident appprove the new blight ordinance. A week later Calsetta informally explained his proposal to the board of finance.

Wawruck said at that meeting the person would be paid about $10 an hour.

Calsetta said Tuesday he thinks the town should hire someone to work about 15 hours a week to get the blight enforcement process started.

“I think that somebody needs to own this project to get it started,” Calsetta said.

If the board of finance rejects the the proposal, Calsetta said town officials will find a way to make the ordinance work.

Selectwoman Denise Balboni voted against the proposal saying with the town having to cut positions and reduce work hours for others in the recent budget, she doesn’t think officials should be creating a new position.

Balboni said she agrees that without a designated employee implementing the new ordinance may stumble along but, she said, there are a number of residents willing to volunteer their time. She said the town should use the resources they have available.

Calsetta said the ordinance might have instances where the town has to go housing court to enforce it and he is not sure that volunteers would want to go to court.

 He said he wants to tell people that the town is doing the best it can and he thinks a part-time employee would show that.