TRURO - Town council has instructed staff to explore the options to have an east-end building condemned.
The motion was passed after Ward 3 Coun. Greg MacArthur raised concerns with 11 Alice St. He said it has been a recurring problem during his six years on council.
It was one of 19 properties listed on the bylaw enforcement officer's report to council for unsightly premises and minimum building and housing maintenance standards bylaw.
"The people on Alice Street deserve better," MacArthur said. "Why should you have to wait for us to call to have the owner cut the grass?"
The home has been vacant for years and the property owner doesn't live in the province. MacArthur said the situation has also decreased property values in the area.
Director of planning Jason Fox said if a property is cited in the last 12 months for not cutting its grass the town only has to give seven days notice as opposed to the normal two weeks.
"We have to get complaints," Fox said. "There's no way we're going to catch every property in town just by driving around."
MacArthur said people who do not want to make a formal complaint against their neighbours could contact any councillor.
"We can move this on through our CAO to the different department heads," he said. "It takes the nervousness out of some people for thinking there's going to be retribution."
Deputy mayor Raymond Tynes also raised concerns about a West Prince Street house where seven raccoons live.
"We can't continue to have a boarded-up building infested with animals that are a danger to families and children in the area," he said.
Tynes suggested the property could also be explored similar to the Alice Street property.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
