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Trustee cautions against penalizing 'snowbirds' in property enforcement proposal
Summary
Trustee Jeff Graham warned that labeling properties as vacant or unoccupied could unfairly penalize seasonal residents and those temporarily away, urging the board to consider exemptions or careful definitions when drafting the ordinance.
Trustee Jeff Graham raised a concern during the Aug. 18 committee meeting that referring to properties as 'vacant' or 'unoccupied' in an enforcement ordinance could unintentionally penalize seasonal residents or homeowners who are temporarily away. Graham specifically cited "snowbirds" as an example of residents who could be affected if definitions are not carefully framed.
Board members acknowledged the point while reviewing examples from other municipalities; no decision was made about specific exemptions or definitions at the meeting. The issue will be part of the legal drafting conversation that President Bruce Dowdy plans to have with Village Attorney Scott Garwood before any ordinance is formally introduced.
