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Council member under fire for same topic at meetings

LISBON — Village council member Peter Wilson came under fire at this week’s meeting for again wanting the village to take a more aggressive approach in enforcing its laws, with a colleague questioning his motivation for bringing up the same issues at every meeting.

The topic this week was the revised building maintenance code. Wilson noted in October “friendly” warning letters were mailed to property owners in the downtown business district advising them of exterior maintenance issues with their buildings that needed to be addressed to bring them into compliance with village code. Nearly seven months later and not a single property owner has obtained a permit needed to begin making the required improvements.

He said they should immediately send a follow-up “friendly” letter reminding the same 25 property owners the building code violations remain and again explain failure to comply within a certain time frame will result in the village imposing a fine of $100 per citation.

“Are we going to wait for June, July or August? It’s time we showed the people we’re serious about downtown revitalization,” Wilson said. “It seems being polite and friendly is not working.”

Beefing up the building maintenance code is one of the cornerstones of Mayor Joseph Morenz’s downtown revitalization plan, with the other being an ordinance enacted in March requiring building owners with vacant storefronts to make an effort to find a renter or sell the building to someone who will.

Morenz told Wilson they need to be patient, noting the building owners receiving letters in October could do nothing until warm weather arrived. He said three building owners have told him they plan to make the required improvements, although none have applied for a permit. Most of the code violations can be rectified by simply giving the exterior a fresh coat of paint, making general repairs and cleaning up the property.

“You know it was snowing two weeks ago, so no one was going to start painting before two weeks ago … I think we should at least give them a chance” until mid summer, Morenz said.

Council member Dawn Thomas pointed out the permits are good for 12 months, so building owners could begin obtaining them now and do the work anytime in the next year.

Wilson was not recommending they take punitive action immediately but merely reminding building owners they are in violation and need to take action. “The idea is to nudge people, “ he said.

Council member Jerry Cox agreed with Morenz but saw nothing wrong with sending another letter, so he seconded Wilson’s motion they do so. Council member Tom Darcy also indicated he was in agreement with this approach.

Morenz said at some point they will have to take punitive action. “You’re right, there are going to be some people who just aren’t going to do it … and we’re going to have to fine them,” he told Wilson.

Council member Jeff Snyder said three building owners who approached him felt insulted by the “friendly” warning letters. “You send out another letter you’re not going to get anything,” he warned.

Cox appeared to change his mind, saying, “I don’t think another few weeks will hurt.”

Wilson’s motion then was brought up for a vote and it appeared to have failed but it was confusing since all six council members voted simultaneously. Fiscal officer Tracey Wonner, who serves as council clerk, said Wilson was the only one who voted in favor.

Wilson said that was fine, but he promised to continue seeking updates at every council meeting, just as he has with four nuisance property citations mailed out in February by Morenz and the laws requiring residents keep their property trash free.

When it comes to enforcing the building maintenance code, Morenz said they need to follow the recommendations of the Town Center Associates, the consulting firm hired by council to help with the revitalization plan. Council President Roger Gallo agreed and recommended before taking any further action they contact TCA.

Wilson believes TCA wants the village to begin enforcing the code, and he said some of the questions could be resolved if more council members attended the meetings with TCA. Gallo said he has attended some of those sessions and then asked Wilson if he was “running for something. We hear you talk, talk, talk. Pete, come on.”

Gallo went on to say the answers to Wilson’s questions can be obtained without repeatedly bringing them up at council meetings, a point raised by Morenz, who has invited him to stop by his office.

“I was elected because people are getting tired of everything being talked about outside of meetings,” Wilson said. “They want transparency, and they want action,” which is why he was elected last year and two incumbents were not.

“Now you’re an election expert?” said Gallo, who was one of two incumbents to be re-elected, with the other being Darcy.

“I’m just looking at what happened,” Wilson replied.

Morenz recommended in the future Wilson put his questions on the council agenda, which would give him a chance to get the answers ahead of time. “You do this every meeting,” he told him.

Wilson said he will do that but promised not to back off in his efforts to get the village to enforce its laws. “I’ll be … asking the same questions at the next meeting,” he said.

Gallo again suggested Wilson is “running for future office.”

“I’m not running for future office,” Wilson replied.

“Whatever. It’s your right to do that,” Gallo said.

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