Residents press Barre City to inspect derelict Main Street building after long-standing nuisance complaints

Two neighbors raised longstanding complaints at the meeting about a boarded, derelict building on Brooklyn/Main Street that they said has attracted break‑ins, animal hoarding, and fouling of nearby yards.

The neighbors described repeated attempts to secure city action and said prior health department follow-up had been insufficient. One speaker, Joe Crozier, described animals, cages and unsanitary conditions at the property and said it had depressed nearby property values.

City staff and the manager said this was the first time the manager had heard of the complaint for that address and committed to follow up with code enforcement and to have someone from the city inspect the property and contact the property owner within a week.

The council emphasized the city’s limited eminent-domain authority and legal constraints on seizing private property, but pledged a prompt code-enforcement visit and follow-up contact with the complaining neighbors.