Laurel resident cites unregistered vacant homes, incomplete financial reports and overdue audits; council divides on next steps

Sharon Ardisana, a Laurel resident, told the Mayor & Council on May 18 that her FOIA requests show the town has not enforced its vacant-home ordinance and is not providing full financial transparency to elected officials.

"If 30 homes have been placed on this registry, and charge fees through the current year, the potential revenue is $270,000," Ardisana said, citing a vacant-property list she received in August 2025. She said the list originally contained about 51 properties but the town registry showed only 18 entries, and that none were added between 2019 and 2023. "Without enforcement, there is very little incentive to repair, sell, or improve these properties," she said.

Ardisana also criticized monthly financial reporting, saying the packet-level summary the council receives lists only "some of the revenues" and does not show year-to-date budget-versus-actuals, check registers, or full bank balances. She said the town is two years behind on required annual audits and cited the town charter's 90-day deadline to complete audits after a fiscal year ends.

Town Manager Jamie Smith said the town began work with a new audit firm in summer 2023; Smith explained audits were delayed after the unexpected death of a finance manager in October 2023 and the change of auditors. Smith said auditors are finishing FY2024 and will roll FY2024 into FY2025 and FY2026 so the work can be completed.

Councilman George Lodato moved that Mayor & Council investigate Ardisana’s concerns about vacant-home enforcement and cost reporting and report back to residents. Lodato also asked that the council review revenue implications if the Justice of the Peace (J.P.) Court were used in place of the town's Alderman Court. Council records show the motion to study the J.P. Court revenue stream failed on a 2–4 vote, with President of Council Chris Calio, Councilwoman RogJenea Fisher, Councilman Donald Holden and Mayor Carlos Oliveras opposed; the minutes record that Councilman Jonathan Kellam supported studying alternatives.

Other residents who spoke during public comment urged the town to compare fines and collections with nearby municipalities and to consider short-term funding for the Alderman Court if revenues have fallen. Mayor Oliveras defended keeping the local Alderman Court, saying it reduces travel for officers and gives residents a nearby place to pay fines or attend hearings.

What happens next: Councilman Lodato requested follow-up and at the meeting asked staff and the town solicitor to prepare information; the council agreed to review the concerns and report back to residents. Code-enforcement staff were asked to include registry status in their monthly reports to the council. No formal ordinance change or enforcement action was adopted at the meeting; the council voted to investigate and to request additional reporting.

Background and why it matters: The town's vacant-home ordinance, adopted in 2017 and effective in FY2019, requires registration for vacant dwellings and a fee schedule that increases with the length of vacancy. According to Ardisana's FOIA records, incomplete registration and a lack of enforcement have let properties deteriorate and may have cost the town significant revenue. The council's next steps will determine whether enforcement, reporting practices or audit timeliness are materially changed.

Council members and town staff may provide any additional documents or updated registry lists in forthcoming reports to the council.