http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140818/NEWS02/708189956
Published August 18, 2014 in the Rutland Herald
Town frustrated with lack of state enforcement on safety violations
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Frustrated with the lack of enforcement by state fire and safety officials, the town of Springfield hopes to open a dialogue.
The Springfield Select Board voted unanimously at a recent meeting to send a letter to the Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, in hopes of having a discussion over what the board views as lack of enforcement in town.
The Select Board also agreed to invite Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, chairwoman of the House Institutions Committee, to sit in on the sessions.
Selectman George McNaughton said that it was “fairly apparent” that the state was only going after “low-hanging fruit” when it came to tackling dilapidated apartments, which the town believes is a magnet for drug dealers from out of state who have brought the town unwanted notoriety in the past two years.
McNaughton said the state inspectors will write up violations, and then give the landlords “two years to get their act together.”
“They never get around to forcing them to comply,” McNaughton said.
He said the town had to do something “to cut through the Gordian knot” that was frustrating many people in town.
Fire Chief Russell Thompson said the state of Vermont does have issues with enforcement. Thompson is the town’s health officer, and thus has to enforce fire and safety code violations.
“The state of Vermont struggles with enforcement,” Thompson said, who added that some landlords get “second, fifth, ninth chances with very little enforcement.”
Thompson urged the board to meet with the local state fire safety inspectors first, rather than going up the chain of command immediately.
And he suggested the board meet behind closed doors “so nobody loses face and you get some real answers.”
But McNaughton said he believed without the press and the public spotlight, little would change.
Selectman David Yesman urged people to just “pick up the phone” and call the inspector, Bruce Martin, to discuss the situation.
“I’ve been there and done that,” McNaughton retorted.
But Yesman said it was unlikely the state would honor the town’s request “to come before a firing squad.”
The Select Board also discussed the possibility of the town’s part-time parking enforcement officer to also issue tickets for public nuisance or public health violations, such as overflowing Dumpsters of trash.
Thompson said he and others had been battling a public health issue on Paddock Road for two years, with no resolution, while a situation on Valley Street was nearing “a good resolution” with a bill being sent to the Connecticut property owner for cleanup and disposal.
Why doesn't the local fire department perform and enforce fire and code inspections? Other towns do it successfully.
ReplyDeleteThey do, they just don't do it on certain slums is all.
ReplyDeleteIf you had the energy to make it to the Board Meeting or watch SAPA, you would know why they don't perform inspections
ReplyDeleteBaloney. They inspected my property and complained about nitpicky things while allowing slumlords to rent out properties where parts of the building are falling off onto the ground. You really trust SAPA and Board Meetings? How about PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
DeleteWell Jean, the Fire Department does not inspect properties, the Department of Labor and Industry inspects properties. So eat your own baloney
DeleteCongratulations Jean, you qualify as low hanging fruit, I guess according to the article.
DeleteAnonymous 1:55 the inspections were done by the Springfield Office of the State Division of Fire Safety so this came out of a LOCAL entity.
DeleteAnd John if by low hanging fruit you mean I am willing to abide by the "your toilet paper holders are 24" above the floor when they should be 22" " level of detail I guess you are right.
My understanding is that they cannot do code inspections without the owner's consent, but they must do annual sprinkler tests on commercial buildings (maybe rental properties too?) equipped with them.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would anyone invite Emmonds? Although I am not a supporter of McNaughton by any means I have to applaud him on at least working towards something substantial which is more than I can say for the board to date. Now if only they would do the same to the state when it comes to its soft approach on drug sentencing in the courts. THAT would really accomplish something good! How about this..how about everyone stops pussyfooting around and rubbing each others backs and quit worrying about who they piss off and lets as a town sue the state for its lack of enforcement. That sends a message not only from our town but to other towns that enough is enough...The state asks for too much of our tax money to not be enforcing the law. So this round goes to McNaughton in my opinion and that is saying something
ReplyDeleteWhen the town follows your advice, I'm sure you won't complain about the legal fees.
DeleteNope I wont complain a bit because my tax dollars will be going towards something substantial rather than funding a bunch of the so loved "meetings and focus groups" of the past. which ALWAYS result in not a damn thing!
DeleteGood points 9:07pm, however someone needs to knock it into McNaughton's head, Vt is a Liberal State and Springfield is thier dumping ground! Every social handout program is offered right here in Springfield. Welfare, mental health, Turning point, HCRS, in fact, according to the Town plan sbsidized housing is at 59%. So we seem to be attracting some of the caliber of people Mr. McNaughton would like to rid the town of. There is a rumor that the following places are hiring, Video stop, Friendly's, Radio shack, Kiosko, Baker Equipment. But seriously we're just a hop skip and a jump away from legalizing marijuana which McNaughton supports. Poof instant job creation, after all someone will have to run the dispensaries so the entiled can spend thier food stamps buying weed! I'll also point out, recipients of these programs utilize Town services police, fire, schools,which overburdens the taxpayers that much more! If only it weren't true.
ReplyDeleteLet's keep the discussion on track. The fact is the Department of Public Safety, located right here on Mineral Street, would rather send out their little Napoleon inspector ( know-nothing) with his arrogant condescending attitude to harass businesses which are doing their best to just survive (like MINE!). This boy needs an attitude adjustment and needs to start focusing on the hovels where families and children SLEEP at night. That is where tragedies happen. Martin his boss just turns a blind eye.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what a government inspector is? Most likely a person that failed a few times at running their own business. But now they know exactly what you need to do. In other words, I can't do it, but I certainly can tell you how now that you're successful.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every time you get sick after eating at a restaurant, it's because the food was improperly prepared or stored. I used to know a couple of sanitarians, and they were not only quite well-educated in their field, they were also conscientious about protecting the public (averting some real catastrophes in the making) and made it a point to work with the restaurant owners to keep Vermont dining an experience that would bring more tourists.
ReplyDeleteThey also were (and still are, thanks to our fear of properly funding government) quite overworked-- I suggest critics here try evaluating the cleanliness of 457 establishments-- restaurants, nursing homes, vendor wagons, etc.-- every year. And they never, ever took a bribe to look the other way, but we taxpayers don't want to thank them for that, either.
Once again, Chuck confuses overworked for overpaid!
ReplyDelete