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Attorney says courtesy cleanup letters were intended village-wide after residents object to short notice
Summary
Village attorney Drew Graham told trustees about roughly 60 courtesy letters asking residents to clean up properties; attendees said they received short notice and some said they were not in violation. Trustees agreed they wanted to review the mailing list and will decide on any follow-up letters at a future meeting.
During the April 29, 2025 meeting, Village attorney Drew Graham told the Staplehurst Board that about 60 residents received courtesy letters asking them to clean up properties to align with village regulations. Graham said the letters were sent with "short notice" and that he had been under the impression the board supported the overall decision to send them.
Several residents in attendance objected, saying their properties were not in violation and that the notice was too brief. Trustee Craig Stava acknowledged there are properties in town in need of cleanup but the board and residents agreed there had been a lack of communication about the initial mailings.
Graham told the board the intent was "to make this a village-wide effort without targeting specific offenders." Trustees said they preferred to review the list of recipients before any subsequent letters are sent and that the board will have final say on who receives second letters. The matter will be further discussed at a future special meeting on ordinance review.
The dispute centered on process and communication rather than a recounting of specific violations; the board did not order enforcement action during the April 29 meeting and instead directed follow-up discussion.
