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Hearing officer fines repeated vape-shop violations at 336 Westport Avenue $10,350
Summary
At a Dec. 3 zoning‑citation hearing, Hearing Officer Robert Maslin assessed a $10,350 fine against the operator at 336 Westport Avenue for operating without required permits and failing to request a hearing after certified notice; staff said the business had a prior fine and continued to operate.
Hearing Officer Robert Maslin assessed a $10,350 fine Dec. 3 against the business at 336 Westport Avenue after staff told the hearing the property had operated repeatedly without required permits.
Maslin said certified mail for the most recent citation was delivered Nov. 10 and that the operator did not request a hearing, so “the violations are deemed admitted.” Staff had counted three enforceable violations — operating without a special permit, an unpermitted window sign, and a main-building sign without permits — at a per‑violation rate of $150 per day.
Mister Hall, the deputy zoning inspector, told the hearing the business “continue[d] to operate” after previous enforcement and that a prior fine of $12,064 had been charged on an earlier matter. Hall said the new citation was mailed and the signed return card placed the citation in the office record.
Maslin described the daily‑penalty calculation and said he would not add service fees; he then announced, “So I'm assessing the fine $10,350,” and instructed staff to complete the paperwork to close the matter.
The hearing record shows staff used certified mail and constable service for notice; because no hearing request was filed within the ordinance timeframe, Maslin treated the citation as admitted and imposed the administrative penalty. The officer noted collection of the assessment is an enforcement matter handled after the hearing.
The hearing closed the file administratively if the assessed fine is paid; Maslin warned that if the business continues to operate without required approvals, staff would issue another citation and the matter would return to a hearing.
What happens next: staff will finalize paperwork to assess the fine and proceed with collection; the owner may pursue any administrative remedies allowed under city rules.
