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Officials say property maintenance enforcement is legally and financially complex; board to review options
Summary
Participants discussed chronic nuisance properties, code enforcement limits, town expenditures on cleanup and the legal steps (liens, foreclosure, condemnation) needed to address repeat offenders.
Planning board members and staff reviewed recurring complaints about properties with accumulated junk, hazards and repeated public-health problems and said enforcement is legally and financially complicated.
What officials said: Staff described a specific property that has required repeated town action and cleanup, costing tens of thousands of dollars in recent years. Staff said the town has authority under the property maintenance ordinance, but legal limits and due-process requirements — and the fact that some problematic parcels are owned by out-of-state mortgage companies or are in foreclosure — restrict how quickly the town may force remediation.
Enforcement realities: Staff explained the code-enforcement process, including administrative warrants, court action, liens and possible foreclosure. Officials said the expense of repeated cleanups falls to the town until liens and legal remedies are completed. The board discussed the need for clearer internal procedures and possibly a funding mechanism (reserve fund) to address habitual offenders.
Next steps: Staff will bring examples of potential legal and fiscal approaches, including lien enforcement timelines and options for condemnation when properties threaten public safety. Board members asked staff to return with options the selectmen could consider, bearing in mind the town’s limited cleanup budget and the need for consistent enforcement.
