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Unkempt properties targeted for action
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 |
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Photo by NANCY AYERS
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![[Image]](/content_images/112509_bee-01.jpg) |
| Belleair Shore is working on a plan to clean up unkempt properties in town, such as this one. |
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BELLEAIR SHORE – Town Commission members and a vocal resident have complained for months about the rising number of unkempt properties in this affluent enclave of stately beachside residences.
Despite the protestations, Belleair Shore resident Deborah Roseman declared at a recent commission meeting, “They’re not getting any better.”
At the commission’s Nov. 17 meeting, Mayor John Robertson said the town is ready to get the offending properties cleaned up. But while ordinances are on the books to deal with the problem, enforcement procedures are lacking.
“There’s no teeth in the ordinances,” agreed Commissioner Robert E. Schmidt Jr.
Current laws require the mayor to give violators notice in writing, followed with a hearing by the Board of Commissioners. Offenders ought to be given a chance to comply, Robertson said.
The town has a special master under contract to handle code violations, but that process is too costly to be used for unkempt property issues, Schmidt said.
His solution: “We should go over, cut the grass, clean it up and put it on (the owner’s) tax bill.”
Commissioner John E. Hayes said the town needs what he described as an “event-driven contract.”
“Hire somebody who can go out and particularly report what the violations are, clean it up and charge the owner,” he said.
Town Attorney John Elias recommended the property be cleaned up, then a lien placed against the property. If it has been foreclosed, a new owner will have to pay the lien when the property is sold.
Clean-up presents another problem, Robertson pointed out.
“Unlike other cities, we can’t just call our grounds crew to clean up,” he said.
Robertson directed Elias to come up with an unkempt property proposal, “that will work for us.” He said he believed the clean up and filing of a lien process that Elias favored to be the best course of action.
Robertson also noted Belleair Beach has an enforcement officer that he can probably work something out with.
The town has a little breathing space to deal with the situation, Robertson added.
“We’re coming off the growing season, so we’re not going to have a problem for the next four months,” he said.
Incumbents expected to seek re-election
Don’t expect new faces on the commission next year. The commission approved the 2010 municipal election to be held March 9, 2010 with a December 1-14 qualifying period.
“A bunch of incumbents plan to run again,” Robertson noted.
Up for election next year are Richard D. Jordan, Raymond Piscitelli and Robert E. Schmidt Jr.
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Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009
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