FARMINGTON – The owner of a vacant house on Wilton Road was given a 60-day extension of time to come up with a plan to either fix it up or tear it down.
A hearing had been scheduled for last week but selectmen decided to table it until Nov. 25 to give homeowner Ted Gay enough time to come up with a plan for fixing the property at 130 Wilton Road by Nov. 9. If there is no response by then, a hearing will be set for Nov. 25.
Letters to notify Gay of the need to contact town officials about a clean up of the property and then the hearing date were sent to his daughter in Massachusetts who was thought at the time to have power of attorney to manage his property. Instead, attorneys representing Gay asked for the extension because the daughter didn’t have power of attorney and direct notification of Gay hadn’t been received in time for the hearing.
Town officials had received complaints from area residents that the property was a “prominent eyesore,” wrote Steve Kaiser, the town’s code enforcement officer. “… the dilapidated condition of the structure at this location makes it a ‘dangerous building'” under state law.
He added in letters sent to Gay’s daughter on Aug. 5 and Aug. 25 to contact his office of any plans to improve the property or if no response was received, the town would begin the process, according to state law, towards remedying the situation. The first step in that process is to hold a public hearing to determine whether the structure is dangerous or a nuisance within the legal definition.
The two-story house, situated across Wilton Road from the former Rite Aid store, had been a rental property for years. In the most recent years, it has remained vacant with tree saplings sprouting up around the foundation and the siding removed from the first floor’s exterior facade.
Selectmen unanimously voted to table the hearing to give Gay time to come up with a plan for the property.
It would seem to me that we should be more concerned about dilapidated buildings where there are people residing than the vacant ones.
The eyesore on Bridge street is more dangerous than the vacant house on the wilton road. Something needs to be done about that place of Joel Batzell. Serious fire hazard
It didn’t look bad until the guy he hired to do work for him stripped the siding and took what he wanted from the interior. He was a victim of theft and vandalism (of this property). Glad the town is giving him more time and hopefully he’s able to sell it or do something with it before they force him to tear it down. No one should be told what they have to do with THEIR property! If they pay the taxes it’s no ones concern, leave them alone!
Except that buildings in poor condition effect the value of neighboring property. Usually, my rights end when they infringe on your rights.
And we don’t want to get into the whole legal argument of who actually “owns” property, the sovereign or the deed holder. That’s how eminent domain and zoning came about.
I notice the eyesore of our roads far before this building.
I am so glad I don’t have any neighbors … given what “neighbor” has come to mean these days. The “neighbor” of Scripture is hard to find anymore, isn’t it? If you think your neighbor’s condition is bringing you down, instead of rousting him out, help him up!
Yes this old house is in disrepair.
A lot of the things mentioned tha make it that way are also applicable to the empty Old Rite Aid building across the street.
Broken windows not repaired,,,weeds/trees growing up around.
And the owners of this eyesore have the money to make these repairs and do the maintenance.
And yes,,look at the circus going on down at Joels by the bridge.
So,,,,get em all I say.
Next thing you know someone around here will be using a blue tarp for a roof,,,,haha
I actually have a tarp on my roof. It happens. Some of us are not as fortunate as others so we do what we need to get by. Maybe you would like to help repair it. For the curious, yes I do hold down a full-time job and do not collect any Government handouts. People should reach out and help others once in awhile but no we feel the need to find the wrong with everything and anything. Society, as a whole, as gone south in a hand basket and I do not see it getting any better. To those of you who know the true meaning of neighbor. . .Good for you for being a decent citizen! We all could use some neighborly help once in a while.