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Neighbors urge village to force cleanup, cite long-running hoarding and health concerns at West Brook property
Summary
Residents at a West Brook property described years of accumulated trash, a flooded pool and what they say are serious mental‑health and safety concerns; the village said code enforcement has pursued court action but its powers are limited without county or family involvement.
Residents pressed the village at its April meeting to do more about a long‑running hoarding problem at a home on West Brook K, saying the property has been a neighborhood eyesore and may pose health and safety risks.
"I have a very serious concern about a property in my neighborhood," said Dan Foltzer, who described a home with overflowing bins, shopping carts, a van packed "wall to wall" with belongings and a backyard pool he said is flooded and attracts mosquitoes. Donna, another neighbor who spoke, said the resident has been living this way "for 5 years" and that attempts by neighbors and DPW to remove trash have been only temporary.
Residents told trustees they have contacted Adult Protective Services and code enforcement and that the case has been to court at least twice. Board members said code enforcement has sent letters and pursued the matter before a judge but that courts have repeatedly given the resident more time to comply. The chair said the village will "redouble our efforts" and try to persuade the court to require more definitive cleanup measures, but emphasized limits on the village's authority to enter private homes without court orders or family involvement.
Neighbors urged the village to coordinate with county mental‑health services and the health department, saying the resident appears to have both physical and cognitive health problems and that a stronger court order might be necessary to compel cleanup and ensure the resident's safety. The board agreed to pass information to police and to follow up with code enforcement and the village attorney.
The matter remains under active review by code enforcement and the village attorney; trustees encouraged anyone with family contact information to provide it to officials to assist welfare checks.
