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Economy council debates tougher fines, steps to abate junked properties
Summary
The Economy Town Council discussed sending certified notices, escalating fines (initial $50, proposed increases to $500 and up to $2,500), and using abatements and liens when owners fail to comply; members also reviewed procedural requirements for hearings and appeals.
The Economy Town Council discussed tightening enforcement of property-maintenance rules, including certified notices, escalating fines and the use of abatements and liens for persistent noncompliance.
Clerk (S1) read the council's plan for enforcement, saying the town will send a certified letter that includes the initial $50 fine and a deadline: "They will have 15 days after the receipt of the letter to pay and remove the junk," the clerk said. Council members described a stepped penalty approach if owners do not comply.
A council member (S3) proposed significantly increasing fines for repeat noncompliance, recommending that officials "raise the fine to 500" and "keep doubling it till we hit $2,500," then schedule a hearing and invite the property owner. The proposal was discussed as a practical way to press owners to act without immediately contracting to perform abatements.
The clerk outlined the abatement-notice process the council must follow, stressing components required in the written notice: the violation location and nature, a statement that the town or a private contractor may perform the abatement, and that the property owner is liable for abatement costs and related administration fees. The clerk added that if the owner fails to reimburse the town, the abatement cost may be filed with the county and placed on the property's tax duplicate, while fines themselves cannot be placed on taxes.
Council members noted timing and legal limits: notices should be served by certified mail (or personal delivery if mail is undeliverable), an owner may request a hearing at a town meeting, and appeals of the town's hearing decision must be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction within 10 days.
Members also raised practical concerns about recouping cleanup costs when the town lacks proper contractor invoices. The clerk said a demolition form provided in one case was a "quote," not an invoice: "This is not an invoice. It clearly says a quote," and the council discussed writing off older unpaid costs if no valid invoice exists.
Next steps: council members agreed to proceed with sending certified notices as described, escalate fines in repeat cases as discussed, and involve the town attorney as needed to confirm legal steps and hearing procedures. The council did not record a formal vote on a new fine schedule during the meeting.
