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Council defers decision on lien-reduction request for 7730 Westlake Drive; asks staff for detailed lien history
Summary
A representative of Legacy Trust asked council to reduce or re-evaluate roughly $200,000 in accumulated code-enforcement liens for a property at 7730 Westlake Drive, citing title disputes and recent remediation work. Council asked staff to gather lien-by-date figures and documentation before making any reduction decision.
On Sept. 9 the Town Council heard a lien-reduction request for property at 7730 Westlake Drive from a representative who said the property is held in a trust and that title disputes and litigation delayed repairs and generated overlapping cleanup and lawn charges. The speaker said a final ownership order was entered July 2, 2024 and that a roof permit was submitted July 10 and recently issued, with most remedial work completed except the roof.
Council members and staff reviewed elapsed timelines and fines that in some cases date back to 2021. Code enforcement officer Eric Ritweig summarized recent site visits, reports of trash and the issuance (and partial rescission) of stop-work and unsafe orders while the building inspector reviewed conditions. "I did show up to the property...the building inspector did go out, issued stop work orders on the property," Ritweig said, and noted he has photos available for the council’s review.
Council members said the town’s standard practice is for liens to be satisfied on transfer, that record research is needed to identify which fines were liens at the time of the purchases, and that the code-enforcement board loses authority to reduce a lien once it is recorded — a decision the council must make. Several council members expressed sympathy for remediation progress but also stressed precedent and the need to protect town resources.
By motion the council directed staff to compile a full history of fines and liens by date and report back so the council can make an informed decision at a later meeting.
