Northland board gives resident 45 days to clean property after code officer inspection

The Northland Town Board unanimously voted to require a local resident, identified in the hearing as Mr. Gould, to bring his property into compliance with the town's junk law within 45 days.

At the hearing the code enforcement officer, Tom, described drive-by inspections and two notices sent after he observed pallets, unregistered vehicles, an old water heater and other debris. “I do not enter a person's property without permission, so all the photos were taken from the highway,” Tom said while presenting the photographic evidence. Andy, who advised the board on applicable local code sections, recommended the board give Mr. Gould a reasonable remediation period: “My recommendation for you to consider is to give him a period of time that you think is reasonable, maybe it's 30 days, maybe it's 45 days,” Andy said.

Mr. Gould acknowledged the condition of the property and asked for time to clean up, saying the pallets were intended for wood racks and that some items would be burned or otherwise removed. “I can't argue with the mess or the junk,” he told the board, while asking for clarity on the timeline and reporting process. The board agreed to allow Tom to inspect the property during the 45‑day period and to return to the board with a report. If Mr. Gould fails to remediate, the board directed that the town may arrange cleanup and bill him for the cost.

The motion to acknowledge a violation and the subsequent motion to grant 45 days for remediation passed with all members voting in favor. The code enforcement officer will re-inspect and report at the end of the compliance period.