By: Charles Stannard
ESSEX–The board of selectmen Wednesday continued discussion of a proposed anti-blight ordinance and learned of the need for a new floor on sections of the first floor of town hall.
First Selectman Phil Miller, who first raised the issue of an anti-blight ordinance last month, said recent contacts with residents lead him to believe the ordinance would have “overwhelming support” if it was brought to a town meeting vote for approval. Miller said many residents are concerned about the effect on property values of several vacant and deteriorating properties in town, including three structures that remain standing after being severely damaged by fire during the past two years. He said the proposed ordinance should include a penalty provision that would allow the town to act on cleaning up a blighted property and then bill the property owner for the work.
Selectman Joel Marzi said an anti-blight ordinance with a penalty provision would be “far reaching,” and suggested the board consider all possible ranifications before presenting a draft ordinance to residents at a public hearing. He suggested the board discuss the ordinance with Judge of Probate Deborah Pearl, Building Official Keith Nolin, and possibly a homeowners isnsurance specialist before asking the town attorney to draft an ordinance.
Miller said he would ask Pearl and Nolin to attend a meeting within the next two months to discuss the idea of an anti-blight ordinance. Marzi said he favored discussing the idea with Pearl because some residential properties fall in to disrepair while an estate is in probate.
Miller also anounced that the recent replacement of a deteriorated carpet outside the town clerk office in the front section of the first floor of town hall had uncovered severe deterioration of the pine wood floor that was under the carpet. He said the floor has been in place since the building was built in the early 1890s. Essex Town Hall was constructed as Pratt High School, and converted for use as a town hall in 1950.
“That floor is shot,” Miller said, while adding “we don’t have a clear picture yet” on the total cost of replacing the floor. He said one option would be installing a maple wood floor similar to the floor in place throughout most of the building’s second floor.
By Charles Stannard
ESSEX– The Board of Selectmen began discussion of a possible town anti-blight ordinance Wednesday in the final meeting of the board’s current two-year term.
It was the last meeting for Selectman Vin Pacileo, who was out-polled in Tuesday’s election by his running-mate, Republican First Selectman candidate Joel Marzi. Marzi received 1,061 votes to Pacileo’s 1,041 in an election where Democrat First Selectman Phil Miller and Democratic Selectman Norman Needleman were re-elected for a fourth term. Pacileo has served on the board since 2003. Miller, Needleman and Marzi will take office for the 2009-2011 term on Nov. 10.
Miller said he was raising the proposed anti-blight ordinance at the request of several residents who live near three vacant homes that remain standing after being severely damaged by fires over the past two years. One of the damaged homes is in the Ivoryton section, two are in Essex.
Miller said he is reviewing several anti-blight ordinances from Connecticut cities and towns that were provided by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Miller said he would favor an ordinance that includes a penalty if the property owner does not respond to repeated town requests to clean up a property.
The board agreed to resume a discussion of the proposed anti-blight ordinance at its Nov. 18 meeting, after Marzi has joined the board. An anti-blight ordinance would require approval from voters at a town meeting.
LocalOnlineNews.TV reported on Guilford’s anti-blight ordinance this past February. Watch our video story below:
