http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140622/THISJUSTIN/706229940
Springfield can’t act on junkyard complaint
By Susan Smallheer
SPRINGFIELD — The Select Board told a local couple it could do nothing about their claim that a neighbor was running a salvage yard.
Edward and Gloria Larow of Chester Road told the Select Board at its meeting last week that their neighbor, George Tallman, was ignoring the town’s zoning regulations and that the town zoning administrator wasn’t responding to their complaints.
But Bill Kearns, the town’s zoning administrator, said after that meeting Tallman told him he planned to move out of town because of what he called “harassment.”
He said despite a series of violations from 2008-11, Tallman wasn’t now violating the town regulations.
Kearns said the Larows had filed an appeal of his 2011 permit to Tallman allowing him to run a business on Chester Road, and that the Development Review Board had ruled in favor of Tallman.
Kearns said the Larows chose not to appeal that decision.
But Edward Larow said that was three years ago, and things had gotten worse. He gave the Select Board a sheaf of date-stamped photographs of Tallman’s property, which he said proved Tallman was dismantling automobiles at his Chester Road home.
The Select Board, Larow, Kearns and Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda debated the situation for more than an hour at the June 16 meeting, with no clear resolution of the problem.
Ankuda said the state was investigating allegations that Tallman was running an illegal junkyard.
The lawyer said the town should wait for the state’s investigation.
Kearns visited Tallman immediately after the meeting. He reported that Tallman told him he would move to a neighboring town and not redeem his property, which went up for tax sale recently.
Tallman did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Kearns said he travels Chester Road daily and while Tallman does dismantle cars at his home, they are always gone in the morning.
Larow strongly disputed that point at the June 16 meeting.
How about the "junk yard" of cars on North Main St in Springfield? The homeowners in the area were given a copy of a letter that was sent to the owner of all those cars, stating that they needed to clean up their yard or be fined. Well, that was years ago and nothing has happened. The property is tiny and there are at least 11 cars parked there daily. The road in front of the home is stained with oil that had leaked out of the junks. Numerous complaints have been sent to the town manager as well as the town attorney and NOTHING has been done. I do not understand why people like this and the one in this story are allowed to continue to do this? Its an eye soar! I keep my yard looking nice, I spend a lot of time and money making my home and yard look nice but when homes like these are sitting in the middle of a nice neighborhood, it makes the whole neighborhood look bad! The town NEEDS to crack down on people like this, why continue to allow them to do this without consequences? Springfield, grow "a pair" and DO something!! If you send a letter stating that you will start fining unless cleaned up, then DO IT, stop making "threats" you have no intention on backing up!
ReplyDeletehow about a letter to the EPA about possible contamination hazard. There are plenty of state ordinances that deal with this issue. Health and safety violations as well.
DeleteGood idea....there has to be someone who will listen! The town does NOTHING!
Deleteepa has been there and found nothing to fine them about
DeleteSorry, but I have a hard time believing that the EPA would find nothing there. The cars leak oil, its all in the roadway, u cant miss it! There are gas cans thrown around, there are car batteries sitting everywhere.
DeleteLooks like there is a collection of car tires along with the hoard of cars too. SMH
DeleteAs someone that has dealt with the EPA, from Burlington to Boston, one thing I can tell you for certain, they're a bunch of incompetent HACKS! They write inaccurate reports and count the days till retiring with their FAT pensions.
DeleteJunkies uptown junkies downtown, they all allowed to do their thing in Springfield.
ReplyDeletemaybe larow should buy it at tax sale
ReplyDeleteSpringfield seems to have given up on insuring our town looks halfway descent.
ReplyDeleteThis story, as well as the first comment to the story show a continuing pattern of just plain incompetence and indifference on the part of our selectman and other officials who apparently keep hoping the "problem will go away". I have a better idea, let's get some towing companies to leave these wrecks in front of our local officials' houses and see how quickly they might decide that this is a problem that really deserves their undivided attention!
ReplyDeleteI live in the North Main St area and I have complained for years over the "car hoarder". I like the idea of getting all those cars moved over to the town officials homes, let them look at it day in and day out. I bet things would change quickly then!
DeleteAs usual excuses and excuses why NOT to act on anything.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was America......
ReplyDeleteSpringfield = 'Merica
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