Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Briarcliffe Acres haggles over unfinished home

Several Briarcliffe Acres residents, including some candidates for Town Council, say a home in the town that has remained unfinished for more than four years is an unsafe eyesore, and they want the town's laws enforced and the situation resolved.

One of those candidates, Joe Eritano, said a permit apparently was issued in early 2005 for Lot #65, but it continues to be a major eyesore affecting the value of residents' property.

"There needs to be a major change in the manner in which our building permits are issued and monitored," Eritano said.

Eritano is one of nine candidates vying for four open seats in the Nov.3 nonpartisan election. Those seats and the mayor's seat, which is currently held by Ken Corbett, are held for two years. Corbett is seeking re-election and is unopposed.

"I've been working as the mayor for two years on changing the town ordinance tocomply with federal and state law that ensures a property owner's rights are protected under due process of law," Corbett said about the situation with Lot #65. "And we are almost ready to take steps to enforce laws in the town to prohibit any nuisance in the town and to make sure they are being complied with. The law requires if you have a permit to build a house, you have to complete it in 18 months. If it's unsafe and creates a nuisance, that gives the town certain rights under the law.''

Town Council incumbents Nancy Edelman and Dennis Herron have worked with the mayor and council to make town ordinances current with the law and to make them enforceable, Edelman said.

"Mayor Ken Corbett has reported at every town meeting the work that is progressing regarding this effort, especially in regard to the unfinished house," Edelman said. "The house is privately owned, and the council thinks it is important to follow due process in any problem relating to a private homeowner."

Herron said the situation has been a challenge, though the Town Council already has updated the town's nuisance ordinance.

"As past and current councils have, each future council will no doubt be faced with new and difficult problems requiring creative thinking and innovative solutions that protect the rights of the individual as well as the town as a whole," Herron said.

Candidate Johnnie Bellamy, said, "Effective, enforceable ordinances must be in place, and a Town Council that is committed to implementing, regulating and enforcing effective ordinances must also be in place."

She and other candidates say the town's enforcement of its ordinances has not been effective.

"Apparently with each new election cycle [council], we get new ordinances; this cycle is no different," said candidate George Peterson. "Now another new ordinance is in place. Enough is enough already; let's condemn the building and take it down."

Abigail Stewart, another candidate, said informal discussions with the property owner going back several years have not been successful, so the town must now depend on enforcing its recently approved nuisance ordinance.

Candidate Joan Kelly said, "The real issue is to enforce zoning laws from the start and not issue permits for buildings that do not meet zoning requirements."

Candidates Gary Pell and Hank Santicola said they would take legal actions, including enforcing current ordinances, to resolve the situation.