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Planning board discusses draft approach to abandoned properties, urges staff work and code officer recruitment
Summary
Board members discussed options to address vacant and dilapidated properties, including drafting a property-maintenance ordinance modeled on larger communities, but said work should proceed only if the city secures capacity for code enforcement.
Board members spent substantial time discussing vacant and abandoned properties and the need for a local property-maintenance program. Planning staff reported she had researched models used by larger neighboring communities, including Bangor, and said most effective programs require significant code-enforcement capacity to implement.
Staff and board members discussed several practical elements: an initial property registry, inspection and notice timelines, a fee for registration, inspection protocols, and enforcement steps that include fines and court action if owners fail to comply. Staff recommended drafting an ordinance and bringing a rough draft to the planning board for review, but several board members emphasized the city lacks a full-time code officer to carry out enforcement and follow-up, making immediate adoption impractical.
Board members asked staff to draft a preliminary ordinance for future meetings and to consult Maine municipal resources and communities with active programs. The transcript records that staff will prepare a handout and a rough draft for the next meeting, and that contracted services funds might be available to obtain outside assistance (for example, Northstar Planning or other consultants) to help with drafting or interim enforcement until a full-time code officer is hired.
No formal motion to adopt any ordinance was made. The action taken was direction to staff to prepare draft language and resources for further board review. Board members noted implementation requires staffing, a registration mechanism, and a consistent enforcement protocol to achieve results.
