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Commission weighs tougher action on derelict houses, seeks graduated enforcement
Summary
Commissioners discussed numerous derelict and abandoned houses in town, debated whether to include a numeric count in the plan, and considered enforcement tools ranging from graduated penalties and liens to condemnation; staff noted building permits are handled by the county, which affects enforcement options.
The commission debated how to characterize and address abandoned and derelict residential properties in town. One commissioner argued the draft should plainly state the problem and noted that many buildings have been empty for decades; another urged softer wording and recommended action steps and incentives rather than only negative descriptors. The chair said she would remove the sentence a colleague found too negative but keep language recognizing a long‑standing problem.
On remedies, commissioners discussed graduated enforcement steps (letters, liens, penalties) and incentives for redevelopment, and some suggested condemnation as a last resort. Wes noted the town currently outsources building permits to the county, which affects any condemnation or building‑permit enforcement pathway. The commission agreed to draft action steps that combine graduated penalties and incentives and to explore legal constraints with counsel.
