The Town of Bridgewater approved taking two property owners to state Supreme Court over long term codes violations.
Town Supervisor Dale DeKing said the town is paying about $400 a month in town court when summonses are sent to violations. DeKing said the property owners often don’t show up and ignore the fines levied. Fines start at $50 and go up to $1,000.
Legal counsel Stuart Finer said town judges can review an issue and issue fines, but have no authority to compel a person to fix the problem. Finer said the only alternative to force compliance is to take the violator to state Supreme Court.
Board members discussed two property violators in particular, both of which have junk cars on their property. Finer said going through the whole procedure to a court ruling could cost between $5,000 to $10,000. Finer said it would be up to the court to determine if the town can recover the money spent.
However, he said the town had a good chance of winning. “They are in violation,’’ Finer said. “There’s no defense.’’
DeKing said over the years the town made agreements with the property owners to get the properties up to codes. She said after the agreement they didn’t follow through.
DeKing said neighbors of the property have complained about the eyesores and she feels their pain to have to live near it.
Finer will file the paperwork and the matter will start going through the state Supreme Court procedures next month.
Codes Officer Pat Baron said someone wants to put a pole barn on Shaul Road that would be less than the required 75 feet from the road. Because of where the water lines lie, the barn would be about 20 feet from the road.
Because the requirement is less than the minimum required, Baron denied it. The question will now go to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Baron said the Dollar General has cleared up its aisles…
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