Neighbor testimony, code enforcement outline urgent health risks at 66 North Street

Robert Grama, the city’s code enforcement officer, briefed the council on a long-running case at 66 North Street that began with a fire in April and has left one unit without utilities and the property with significant trash and pest issues. Grama said the mortgage holder took the house back over the summer, which reset the city’s standard enforcement clock, and that code staff have accelerated the notice timeline and plan to send a 10-day letter to the mortgage holder and pursue court action if the owner does not act.

Grama described both legal constraints and public-health dangers: the home reportedly has no water or sewer, unsafe electrical connections and a rodent infestation. “Our 10-day letter will go out in the morning,” Grama said, “and we will refer them to legal counsel to take them to court to force them to clean it up.” He warned condemning the house could complicate liability and eviction processes and that the city is balancing the need for quick action with the legal tools available.

Janice Garland, a long-time neighbor and current occupant of the front unit, told council the conditions have had a severe personal health impact: “The rats have been in the walls… I have asthma, and this is killing me,” she said, describing rat feces, indoor contamination and ongoing respiratory distress. Garland thanked staff for their efforts and urged code changes to prevent similar long delays in the future.

Councilors asked whether the city could provide resources to neighbors and whether the letters were reaching the right mortgage-holder contacts; staff said they have attempted phone and email outreach but the mortgage company has been reluctant to act unless ordered by a court. Council directed staff to pursue the expedited legal route while reporting back on possible preventive ordinance changes and resource referrals for affected neighbors.