Clifton council cites Poe property for junk-vehicle violations, offers mediation

The Clifton Town Council voted unanimously Oct. 1 to cite the Poe property on School Street for violation of the town’s junk-vehicle ordinance and to offer mediation on the timetable for removal.

A committee that inspected the property on Sept. 22 reported finding two vehicles with antique tags, two motorcycles parked in the right-of-way with valid tags, and four covered vehicles in the driveway that the committee judged to be inoperable and in violation of Town Code §9-13(j). The committee recommended issuing a notice of violation and a removal deadline not later than 90 days after the notice.

When asked during the committee visit, property owner Darrell Poe stated that “the covered vehicles all had expired tags and were inoperable,” the committee report said. Committee members concluded the covered vehicles met the town’s definition of junk vehicles because their license plates had been expired for more than 60 days and the vehicles were visible from the public street (School Street).

Councilmember Bill Hollaway moved that the town cite the Poes for the violation and provide a certificate letter to that effect while offering the family an opportunity to negotiate a mediation time frame with council-appointed members; John Powell seconded the motion and the council approved it unanimously.

The council also discussed that mediation between the Poes and council representatives could address specific time frames and remediation steps; the committee recommended a 90-day removal period in its report. The action directs town staff or appointed council members to coordinate the notice and mediation process in accordance with the town code.