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Hubbardston Board of Health to investigate ownership of condemned house at 10 Bridal Road
Summary
Board agreed to research ownership and work with the building inspector and town treasurer on next steps after a resident complaint about a condemned, dilapidated house at 10 Bridal Road.
The Town of Hubbardston Board of Health discussed a resident complaint about a condemned house at 10 Bridal Road and directed staff to research ownership records and coordinate with the building inspector and town treasurer to determine next steps.
The complaint letter described a property that had been condemned and had been targeted previously for demolition with county funds; those funds were not secured after a county official went on leave, according to the complaint. The board said it will first determine who is paying taxes on the parcel and whether the property is bank‑owned or abandoned, then send a letter to the owner (if identified) jointly from the board and the Select Board asking for remediation within a set timeframe.
Why it matters: dilapidated, condemned structures can pose public‑health and safety hazards. Determining ownership and appropriate enforcement steps is the first statutory step for addressing such hazards.
What the board decided: members agreed the next actions are (1) determine property ownership and tax status through the town treasurer or tax records, (2) refer the matter to the building inspector for a property inspection and code assessment, and (3) draft a joint letter from the Board of Health and the Select Board to the owner requesting corrective action and a response timeline.
Quotations and context: the chair told members the next action should be to "find out who, if anyone, is paying the taxes on that property because that goes back to ownership. And then a letter would have to come probably both from the board of health and probably the select board, to the owner of the property to have something done." The board asked staff to acknowledge receipt of the complaint to the writer and to proceed with the records search.
Ending: Board staff will attempt to identify the owner, notify the building inspector and town treasurer, and return with recommended next steps and suggested letter language at the next meeting.
