Committee Report - Public Health - 3-21-11 — File 191019

March 21, 2011 Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 3/23/2011 REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived William A. White Jr. Chair Present John M Connolly Vice Chair Present Walter F. Pero Ward Four Alderman Present Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present Kevin Kelleher Chief Fire Engineer Present Patrick Sullivan III Deputy Fire Chief Present Dave Shapiro Asst. City Solicitor Present Eddie Nuzzo Supt., ISD Present Elizabeth Craveiro Treasurer Present 190167 - Submitting the City’s Evaluation and Strategic Plan for the Fire Dept.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190957 - That the City Solicitor and the Director of SPCD (ISD) provide recommendations for the abandoned property at 47 Harrison Street, and advise this Board on actions the city can take to address safety and health issues as well as taxes and fees owed the city.: Neighbors told the committee that the property is being used by homeless individuals, bricks have been falling from the roof, and that during the winter, snow had not been shoveled at the property, making it hazardous for pedestrians. The Neighborhood Impact Team will examine the property for code violations as soon as possible. The city initiated a tax taking of the property in 2002 but because the owners of the property were no longer alive, and many of the heirs could not be located, the tax taking could not be completed. However, an administrator for one of them has been located and the tax taking process will begin again. The city solicitor’s office will contact the administrator to determine his intentions as to repairing the property. The City has the options of demolishing the property if it was a serious hazard but the neighbors expressed opposition to having the property demolished. The City also could ask to have a receiver appointed to control the property. The City Solicitor’s office will advise the committee with recommendations at its next meeting.

Committee Meeting March 21, 2011 Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 3/23/2011 Alderman Heuston’s motion that the Chief of Police order a directed patrol at 47 Harrison Street to prevent individuals from occupying or otherwise using the premises, was approved. Alderman Connolly’s motion that the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development initiate a full NIT evaluation of the property at 47 Harrison Street and report the findings to the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety, was approved. The committee requested that the city develop and present an action plan in two weeks. Mr. Nuzzo will make an assessment of the property to determine if it may be condemned. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190999 - That this Board’s Committee on Public Health and Public Safety once again address the safety of the abandoned building at 82 Pearson Avenue, which remains in disrepair.: Neighbors spoke about their concerns regarding the property and would like to be made aware of what is happening with it. The property has become an eyesore and a health hazard, (as 52 dead pigeons were found on the second floor of the property). Neighbors feel that the city has taken little or no action to remedy the situation and complained that property values are being lowered because of it. Mr. Shapiro had been in contact with Bank of America, (who is not the owner of the property), and a temporary fix had been done a year and one-half ago, however, this isn’t the answer to the problem. The problem is that the property is in bankruptcy and the Bank of America has not yet foreclosed on the property. The city could intervene in the bankruptcy case and ask the bankruptcy judge to permit the appointment of a receiver to control the property. A suggestion was made that representatives from Bank of America appear before the committee to discuss the disrepair of the property. The committee also requested that the City Solicitor inform the committee of the city’s options under state law to address the issues involved with the property. The committee also requested to know when the city obtained its last administrative warrant to go onto a private property. Chairman White directed the City Solicitor’s Office to develop an immediate action plan for this property and to raise the issue of receivership with a bankruptcy attorney. Members feel that the city needs to develop a new approach to deal with problem properties, coordinating efforts from ISD, the Law Office and the Treasurer’s Office. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE