Board removes 108 Vero Street from blight list, schedules Feb. 24 hearing for 125 Stella Lane

Fairfield's Board of Combination and Blight on Jan. 27, 2025 removed 108 Vero Street from its active blight docket after a Building Department inspector verified the windows had been repaired and exterior boards painted; the board also approved the minutes from its December meeting with a wording change about 92 Grasmere and scheduled a hearing for 125 Stella Lane on Feb. 24.

The board voted to take 108 Vero Street off the enforcement list after a staff member said the property's windows and exterior work had met the department's requests. A motion to remove the property was seconded and the chair called for those in favor; the transcript records an affirmative response and the motion was carried. The transcript does not record a numeric roll-call or individual vote tallies.

Staff updated the board on several other properties. At 92 Grasmere, the Building Department reported the town's proposal was being reviewed by the owner's attorney (identified in the record as Mr. Wisniewski's attorney). The inspector told the board he had informed the owner that neighbors reported people accessing the dwelling in the evening; the owner said demolition permitting steps had been taken and staff will recheck that doors are secured and inspect the roof for daylight from inside.

The board noted receipt of a communication from the attorney for 904 High Street indicating the owner had received the notice and intended to comply; staff said no physical repairs had yet been observed and the board agreed to allow one month for progress before pursuing further enforcement.

Work at 57 Rock Ridge and 280 Tuckahoe was described as ongoing; inspectors said recent repairs (including windows) have brought those properties closer to compliance. At 454 Vernon Hills siding work had begun, and 201 Whiteshell Lane remained active with workers present when inspected.

The board confirmed a hearing for 125 Stella Lane on Feb. 24. For 222 Stilson Road, staff reported the owner was still securing permits needed to continue demolition work. Several other properties remain on the board's docket for further review.

Separately, staff described a complaint submitted via the town's QAlert system about vehicles at 265 Ardmore (the complainant apparently meant 65 Ardmore). Inspectors found two vehicles: one appeared dilapidated and unregistered, the other had a registration status that the inspector read aloud from the DMV website; the transcript also records an amount of "$1,247.44" in connection with one Volkswagen.

Because the vehicle complaints involved registration and right-of-way considerations, staff said they would refer the matter to the Fairfield Police Department for possible tagging and enforcement; the board generally agreed this matter did not require immediate action under the blight ordinance. The board also noted one matter involving columns along a state road was subject to state highway right-of-way review and therefore outside the board's authority.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the chair declared the meeting adjourned at 2:09 p.m.

Ending note: the board left multiple properties on the docket for additional monitoring or hearings, and staff will follow up with the commissioners and, where applicable, external agencies (police or state highway engineers) as recorded in the meeting.