Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustee urges tougher enforcement on overgrown lots; village staff to revisit options
Summary
Trustee John Ragonese pressed the village to curb repeat grass/weed violations and asked whether the municipal attorney could resist plea reductions for absentee landlords; Administrator Kim said staff will revisit procedures with inspectors but noted the timeline had already been shortened previously. Ragonese said: "I don't want to hurt anybody. I just want compliance."
Trustee John Ragonese raised ongoing frustration with the pace and outcomes of code enforcement for properties with overgrown grass, arguing that shortened timelines still allow owners to mow before court and pay reduced fines that fail to produce compliance.
Ragonese asked whether the municipal attorney could be directed to resist plea reductions for repeat violators, particularly absentee landlords. Village Administrator Kim said staff would revisit the issue with inspectors and look at how other communities handle enforcement, but she cautioned that timelines had already been shortened at the Board's prior direction. Ragonese emphasized his goal: "I don't want to hurt anybody. I just want compliance."
The minutes record the concern and a commitment to staff follow-up; no formal motion or change to code enforcement policy was adopted at the meeting.
