Code enforcement reports progress at Booth property; fines tallied at $16,000

Code enforcement officer Miss McVay updated the council Aug. 3 on a lengthy enforcement case involving a commercial property commonly referred to as the Booth/Maverick site. McVay showed recent photographs and reported that trucks and equipment have been removed, permit renewals were processed that day, and contractors were on site to finish windows, door framing and siding.

McVay confirmed the sequence of civil enforcement: the initial civil citation from June was $3,200; late fees and continued noncompliance increased past citations to $8,800, and most recently the running total reflected about $16,000 in civil citations and late fees. When asked whether any fines had been collected, McVay said none had been collected to date. She told council that the town can record a lien on the property or pursue a tax lien if the owner does not pay; appeals must be filed in writing to the town administrator within the statutory window.

Council members asked staff to coordinate with the town attorney on lien options and asked the administrator to report rolling costs and staff time spent on the case so the council can evaluate the fiscal impact of sustained enforcement. McVay said staff’s primary goal is compliance rather than revenue: “Most times, it's not the fine that we're after. It's the compliance,” she said. If the owner brings the property into compliance, council indicated it may favor holding to the initial fine rather than assessing accumulated late fees.