Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves to new hearing and parallel court track for 135 Main Street after owner misses deadline
Summary
The council found 135 Main Street still out of compliance with a dangerous‑building order and directed staff to schedule a new public hearing with revised remediation requirements and penalties, while authorizing counsel to begin court proceedings if repairs are not completed by end of August.
The Pittsfield Town Council completed a compliance review on Aug. 4 of the dangerous‑building order related to 135 Main Street and concluded the property remains out of compliance. The owner (on the record via the meeting video) said plans were submitted July 30 and that a contractor is scheduled to repair missing roof panels in the fourth week of August; the owner acknowledged the contractor has not yet signed a formal contract.
Town Counsel Derek outlined the council’s options: issue a new order with specific deadlines and penalties, petition the Superior Court to proceed with demolition under the existing order, or run both tracks simultaneously to avoid further delay. Multiple council members and adjacent property representatives raised safety concerns about shared trusses between 135 Main and the neighboring theater and emphasized the need for a structural engineer’s sign‑off. Renee Qua, representing Kleinschmidt (an adjacent property owner), stressed the risk to the theater and suggested lowering the building to the theater roofline or otherwise protecting adjoining structures if urgent work is not completed.
Council amended Resolution 26‑62 to find the building out of compliance, schedule a new public hearing to set remediation parameters and possible penalties, and directed staff and counsel to prepare parallel court proceedings as necessary. Members asked that any repair plan include inspection and sign‑off by the town’s licensed structural engineer to protect adjacent properties. The council emphasized it prefers remediation by the owner but said it will pursue legal remedies if the August schedule is not met.
The action records a policy direction (new public hearing and drafting of enhanced order) and authorization to pursue court action if compliance is not achieved.
