• Two quarters' Vacant Building Fee not paid, January 1 - June 30, 2009.
• Quarterly inspection July 2, 2009 -- at taxpayer expense.
• Work on the portico which was started in December was discontinued until this past weekend. Someone was working there a few days ago, painting wood replaced in the ceiling of the portico.
• Column on left sagging.
• Fire hazards reported to the Fire Marshall on June 14 -- no response. Follow-up sent to Fire Chief today:
  

To: Chief O'Neil, June 29, 2009:

1. No response to request sent on June 14 to Thomas Middleton about fire hazards at 2 Appletree Point Lane.
2. Our property is adjacent to the vacant buildings at 2 Appletree Point Lane, with many old pine trees around. We are concerned about fire hazards.
   
3. We do not believe it is in compliance with the Vacant Building Code to have these piles of debris, but 2 years of complaints to Code Enforcement have not resulted in the removal of debris so I am following up with you about fire hazards.
4. Photos below show one pile of debris. There is also debris behind the garage which is attached to the main house and next to my house.
   
5. Please check out the situation to confirm that it is safe.
   
6. May we also have a copy of the pre-plan for fighting a fire on the property -- 2 Appletree Point Lane? According to the file at Code Enforcement, it was recommended that the fire department have such a plan and we want to confirm that such a plan exists.

Fire and Safety Concerns Continue

UPDATE: Waiver of vacant building fee that covers cost of monitoring and enforcing compliance with Vacant Building code, was granted by Code Enforcement in the first and second quarter of 2009. Waiver was appealed to Public Works Commission, and waivers were rescinded. However, property owner has not paid the fees, and monitoring is currently at taxpayer expense.

Example: Request to Fire Marshall to evaluate fire hazards at the property.
________________________________________________________

June 14, 2009
Fire Marshall Middleton

Fire Hazards at vacant property, 2 Appletree Point Lane:

Primary concern -- pile of dead tree debris piled up next to an very old wooden vacant structure. There are a lot of downed trees on the property, also.

Related concern -- pre-plan for fighting a fire at this address, 2 Appletree Point Lane.

We would like to meet with you, at your convenience, to discuss the situation, primarily the safety of abutting properties in case of a fire at the Wick house. If we could meet on site, that would be most reassuring.

There are a lot of downed trees on the property, also.

Thank you.

Lea Terhune, Chuck Seleen

Editorial: City must refocus on code violations

April 10, 2009

The recent departure of the city's code enforcement director gives Burlington an opportunity to refocus on violations that degrade the quality of life in city neighborhoods.

A Free Press story reports on the problems in Ward 1, where tenants vehicles crowd the front and back yards of houses chopped up into apartments. Greenbelts have been turned into muddy driveways, and the curbs have been smashed down by cars repeatedly driving over them. Neighbors Caryn Long and Sandy Wynne tell the Free Press their complaints to the Code Enforcement Office have brought no relief.

Code enforcement must make violations that endanger health and safety its priority. Cracking down on seemingly lesser violations -- like front yards turned into parking lots -- can be a way to head off problems before they become major issues that threaten the welfare of city residents.

To be effective, code enforcement must have the full and active backing of the mayor and the City Council. The Office of Code Enforcement must have a clear mandate from City Hall and the means to carry out its mission. The place to start is to make sure things are being done right and in the most efficient manner possible.

Does the city have an efficient way to check on code violations? Is the city responding to resident reports? How easy it is to file a complaint? Are the codes being enforced when violations are discovered? These are some of the questions to be considered.

This is not the task for Assistant City Attorney Gene Bergman, who became interim code director only on Monday to fill a spot left vacant when Director Kathleen Butler stepped down last week. The move toward better code enforcement starts in earnest with how the next director is named.

Councilor Ed Adrian, D-Ward 1, makes a sound proposal in asking for full public involvement in selecting the next code director. Such a process would serve to engage and educate city residents in code enforcement, and give the director and his or her office a higher public profile.

Overlooking a series of code violations -- even if minor -- can set a neighborhood on the road to a slow degradation. Preserving the quality of all city neighborhoods should be a high-priority item on the agenda of a City Hall that puts a high value on the city's livability.

BURLINGTON DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT LEAVING CITY TO TAKE NEW JOB IN PORTLAND, OREGON

March 19, 2009 – Burlington, VT. The City of Burlington’s Director of Code Enforcement, Kathleen Butler, will be leaving her position and accepting a position as Regulatory Division Manager for the City of Portland, Oregon. Ms. Butler’s last day of work for Burlington will be April 3, 2009.

Ms. Butler expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to work as the Code Director for Burlington. “I have been honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of code enforcement in Burlington,” she said. “The programs we are responsible for in Code are very important to the citizens of Burlington, and I am grateful for having had the chance to help improve these programs.”

blah blah blah

Update, March 21, 2009

~ Scaffolding remains on the portico. Compliance with orders? Not unless the orders have been changed. Will check with DPW this week.

~ BPD found the reports filed by officers who came to the house last year when several doors were open, giving direct access into the house.

~ Code Enforcement Director resigned to take a job with city code compliance office in Portland, OR. HHT!

Portico structural support

About a month ago, scaffolding was set up and one of the columns was supported. It remains a work in progress, but it is safe and there is a token attempt to warm people of danger -- orange plastic fencing draped around the area. Rotted area has not been replaced, so weather is still deteriorating the structure.