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Orleans council to pursue enforcement steps for abandoned properties, set hearing notice
Summary
Council discussed multiple nuisance properties, trailer and mobile-home hazards and options to locate owners; members agreed to post hearing notices and, if owners do not appear, to pursue ordinance violations and service by publication.
Councilors discussed a range of code-enforcement issues including abandoned trailers, broken windows, unmowed yards and a trailer that may be a health hazard. Staff described repeated outreach attempts to property owners and outlined next steps if owners remain unreachable: "if we can't find them, you know, we'll just file the warning violation, serve them by publication," a council speaker said.
The council reviewed the sheriff's-sale and tax-sale processes for properties with liens and discussed practical next steps when owners cannot be located. Members agreed to require owners or representatives to appear at an upcoming hearing (noted in the meeting as the first Wednesday in August) and, if owners fail to appear, to proceed with ordinance-based enforcement and possible unsafe-building filings for structures that meet the criteria.
Councilors asked staff to ensure consistent criteria across cases and to bring specific properties back to the council with prepared notices and proposed motions for enforcement at the next meeting.
