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Seymour board denies blight‑waiver request for 93 Squantic Road, cites safety hazards and moves to file lien
Summary
After hearing the owner’s written appeal and a blight‑officer report documenting limited remediation and potential propane and storage‑tank hazards, the board unanimously denied the waiver request and authorized staff to pursue a lien and court filings to address ongoing public‑safety risks.
The Seymour Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously to deny a blight‑waiver request for 93 Squantic Road after hearing an extensive enforcement report and a written appeal from the property owner.
Blight enforcement officer John McKenzie told the board he had followed the multi‑step enforcement process under the town’s anti‑blight ordinance, served a notice of correction, granted a 60‑day extension for a senior owner, and later issued a notice of violation. He reported tree removal performed to allow safe access but said there had been no demonstrable remediation otherwise. McKenzie said the original citation issued Nov. 10, 2025 totaled $5,400 and, with a continuing $100 per‑day penalty, the fine had reached $11,200 as of Jan. 6, 2026; the owner had previously paid $8,100 on two occasions.
In written remarks read into the record, owner Trudy Bedell described health and mobility problems, an interrupted plan to sell the property and the financial burden of removal and repairs. She said her son had cleared much of the property but they could not remove a vintage trailer and certain items quickly.
McKenzie reported potential environmental and public‑safety hazards on the property: an abandoned above‑ground storage tank and two abandoned liquid‑propane tanks adjacent to a collapsed recreational vehicle, surrounded by heavy overgrowth. He recommended withdrawing a prior suggestion to stay the citation and instead drafting a lien and filing with Connecticut Superior Court to recover costs and compel remediation.
Board members expressed sympathy for the owner’s circumstances but emphasized the unresolved safety risk to neighbors and first responders. Members discussed limited immediate remedies (fencing, abatement orders, or condemnation) and confirmed the fire marshal had been notified. The board’s motion directed staff to proceed with the enforcement steps McKenzie recommended, including a property lien and court filings; it passed 6‑0.
The board also noted that a lien and subsequent foreclosure or sale could result in the town recouping cleanup costs but acknowledged the harsh consequences for the owner. The board requested continued coordination with the fire marshal and building officials to assess imminent danger and, if needed, secure the site for public safety.
Next steps: town counsel and land use staff will draft the lien and begin the necessary court filings; the fire marshal will assess on‑site hazards and report back to the board.
