Commission presses building department on enforcement timeliness, plans staff presentation on permit and violation process

At its June 12 meeting the Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission asked city staff to pursue clearer procedures with the Building Department after commissioners said delayed responses to complaints had allowed preventable deterioration and unpermitted work to proceed.

Commission members described cases where late or uncertain responses from building‑department staff appeared to let repairs or alterations progress to the point of greater damage. The commission asked staff to arrange a presentation or Q&A with Building Inspector Eric Phillips so members can better understand permit triggers, enforcement steps and how the building department documents and closes violations.

Commissioner Gloria (addressing the commission) said timeliness was critical: had inspectors responded quicker in some cases, “work could have been prevented before it became unrepairable,” she said. Staff acknowledged building‑department resource limits — inspectors’ availability, training assignments and competing public‑safety priorities — but agreed to request a meeting with Eric Phillips and to provide the commission with a written description of the enforcement/closure process the building department follows.

Staff also noted that when a property within the historic district files for a permit the application is flagged and cannot proceed without commission review; the commission said it wants clearer closure steps so older violations do not linger for years without resolution. The commission asked staff to include the draft commission guides and the recently distributed ex‑parte communications policy on a future agenda for discussion and formal adoption.