Town wants tools to deal with eyesores

The town wants property owners to be more responsible about their homes and buildings.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150727/THISJUSTIN/707279941

Town wants tools to deal with eyesores By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer | July 27,2015 SPRINGFIELD — The town wants property owners to be more responsible about their homes and buildings. The Select Board voted last week to ask the Legislature for the local power to crack down on blight. On a 4-1 vote, with Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris opposed, the board agreed to ask the town’s legislators for their support. Selectman Walter Martone said the town needed to get tougher with the owners of buildings that are derelict but not unsafe. Martone said Friday he wasn’t talking about someone who hasn’t painted his porch in a while, but someone who has had a tarp on a building for a decade. He said the neglect of buildings and property was having a negative effect on the property’s neighbors, and by extension, the entire town. Martone said that since the board voted last week, he has learned from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns that several other Vermont towns are also interested in regulating the issue. Morris said he didn’t disagree with Martone’s goals, but he was skeptical that such a request would gain much traction with the Legislature. “No one disagrees with your intentions,” said Morris. Martone said he wasn’t advocating necessarily for an ordinance, but he wanted to seek authority “to hopefully make things better.” Morris said he still had questions about what Martone was seeking, and voted against the motion. “I’m very glad to hear this discussion taking place,” said resident Richard Andrews, who praised Martone for doing research into what the destructive impact could be on the town, or a neighborhood. Rutland recently received a $1.5 million federal grant to help address blight in the city, Martone said. He said that residential as well as commercial landowners “should be held just as accountable.” Landlords have to do more screening of potential tenants, he said. “Landlords should be vetting people. If you have renters, you are responsible for your property,” he said. Martone said he was talking about eyesores: broken or boarded-up windows, the use of tarps for an extended period of time, “and buildings under renovation that goes on forever.” “The neighborhood should expect it may take years, but it shouldn’t take decades,” said Martone. He said he would not be suggesting standards, “we don’t want to bring a hammer down on people.” But at the same time, he said, “we need to show that the town cares.” Selectwoman Stephanie Thompson said she had talked to Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, about the proposed legislation, and Emmons said she wouldn’t introduce such legislation, which would run counter to people’s perceptions of individual property owner rights. Emmons had suggested the town pursue its remedy via the town charter, Thompson said.