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Auburn nuisance panel keeps 11 Madison on list, removes 7 Franklin after cleanup
Summary
At its April 16 meeting the City of Auburn Nuisance Abatement Committee kept 11 Madison Ave on its active list and agreed to remove 7 Franklin Street after code enforcement reported the property cleaned; the committee also approved Feb. 19 meeting minutes and scheduled the next hearing for June 18.
The City of Auburn Nuisance Abatement Committee on April 16 voted to accept meeting minutes from Feb. 19, confirmed that 11 Madison Ave will remain on its active enforcement list while eviction proceedings continue, and agreed to remove 7 Franklin Street from the list after code enforcement reported the property cleaned.
The committee's decision matters because 11 Madison remains the subject of repeated public-safety and nuisance contacts while the landlord pursues eviction in court; the panel directed the corporation counsel's office to monitor the case and provide updates to City Hall. By contrast, code enforcement said 7 Franklin has been cleared of occupants and debris and can be taken off the active list.
At the meeting, Thomas Prew, the landlord of 11 Madison Ave., told the committee he is pursuing eviction of the current tenants and said he is handling the proceeding himself. “I am Thomas Prew. I'm landlord 11 Madison Ave. I'm in the process of evicting the tenants. I was in court yesterday, but the process is taking a while,” Prew said. He added that once the tenants are removed he plans to renovate the house and “make it better.”
Fire Chief Mark Fritz told the committee the Fire Department “have not been back to that address since 04/10/2023, for a structure fire incident.” Police Chief Matthew Androsco said the Police Department had recorded five calls related to that address since February and that “the most recent is 09/01/2024,” describing recurring tenant-related incidents.
Committee members asked that the corporation counsel’s office reach out to Prew to confirm progress on the eviction and requested that updates be sent to City Hall so staff can monitor the case. A city staff member said counsel would likely contact Prew to ensure the matter is moving as represented.
On 7 Franklin Street, a code enforcement officer reported that property maintenance crews had removed tents, debris and occupants from the driveway and that “there's nobody residing in 7 Franklin at the moment.” The officer said Jerry Sylvester, an owner associated with the property, “has taken on a partner and did not realize the conditions of the properties. So he's whittling away at all Jerry Sylvester's properties, and this is next on the line.” The officer added, “Our property maintenance crew cleaned it all out, and it has not been back to the condition it was.”
When the chair asked the chiefs if they were satisfied with progress at 7 Franklin, Fire Chief Fritz replied, “I am. I am.” The committee agreed to remove 7 Franklin from the active nuisance list.
The committee approved the Feb. 19, 2025 meeting minutes by roll call (yes votes recorded for Fire Chief Mark Fritz, Police Chief Matthew Androsco and the city manager) and adjourned after scheduling the next meeting for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 9 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 24 South Street.
No formal civil penalties, ordinances or new enforcement orders were adopted at the session; the committee recorded a direction for staff and corporation counsel to monitor the 11 Madison eviction and report back.
