Council extends vacate date, directs certified letters and possible fines for code violations

The Town Council approved an extension to the vacate date for the Franklin property, moving the deadline for Wayne to vacate to Sept. 12, and directed staff to send certified enforcement letters and pursue fines where owners do not respond or fail to abate violations.

Members voted to extend the vacate date after the chair put the request on the floor; the motion was seconded and approved by voice. Council members then reviewed several properties with outstanding issues—overgrown vegetation, unsafe foundations, open doors, and accumulated debris—and agreed that staff should issue separate, targeted letters to each owner when ownership or conditions differ.

Why it matters: council members said the letters are the next step before fines or court action and emphasized public‑safety risks posed by open foundations, holes and nuisance conditions. Staff proposed a 30‑day response window measured from the date of the certified letter; if violations persist the ordinance allows an initial administrative fine and escalating daily penalties.

Staff outlined the enforcement framework discussed at the meeting: an initial $100 fine for the first 30‑day period was cited as typical for an initial violation and council reviewed statutory language discussed in the meeting that allows daily penalties up to $200 for continuing violations. Using the maximum daily penalty over the ordinance’s stated limit (200 days) yields a theoretical cap of about $12,000 for a long‑running violation; council instructed staff to calculate fines precisely and state the specific ordinance sections in each notice.

The meeting included a number of property‑specific items: a failed foundation at the Goss property that needs repair and may require revised building plans or renewed permits; properties that have recently sold and now require new‑owner notice; and one storage site that may be approaching junkyard classification, which would alter enforcement options. For properties where owners are cooperating, members said the town will monitor progress and consider waiving fines only after confirming remediation; for nonresponders staff was directed to begin the ticketing and fine process and pursue legal remedies where needed.

Becky, a town staff member, was asked to prepare and send certified letters and to compile paperwork for properties where legal action is already pending. Members agreed to review responses and the status of remediation at the next meeting and to check specific parcels in the interim.

The council closed this portion of the agenda by reaffirming that staff should issue clear notices stating the ordinance violation, the deadline to respond, and the consequences (including fines and potential court action).