Continued from NewsStand, page 1

Source: Neighbors West, 3/25/04, Sara Errington 

Peter and Mary Pirnie submitted a proposal for an unsafe building law to the Spafford Town Board March 11. Mary Pirnie noted that the town of Tully has such a law that was used as a model. "We desperately need it here and it would be very helpful in moving ahead with the slum clearance project," she said.

The proposed law defines unsafe buildings as those that are structurally damaged or unsound, or have breaches that allow water, people or vermin to enter.

Repairable buildings are defined as having only cosmetic defects or needing routine maintenance to meet code requirements.

Abandoned buildings are recommended to be demolished after they've been vacant for two years and 60 days.

The proposed outlines a process by which the town would deal with unsafe buildings and outlines penalties for failing to comply.

Councilor Joyce Barnett thanked the Pirnies for doing so much research on unsafe building laws in other towns.

Councilor Bill Vinzant said he thinks the law is too extreme. He said his house would be condemned under the law since it has a basement that is occasionally wet and there seems to be no way to repair it.

Also, his historic barn has spaces between the exterior boards, meant to allow corn to dry, that could let small animals in.

"To set about destroying barns because of cracks where air or light can be seen through is not, I don't think, what you intend to do," Vinzant said.

Peter Pirnie suggested that such a barn could be sealed up.

Mary Pirnie said that defects such as a leaky basement would faill under the category of "repairable" and not lead to the condemnation of a building.

Gordon Ireland said he hoped the Pirnies would rework the proposal and bring it back to the (next) meeting.

Mary Pirnie said they don't want to do the town's work and only meant the proposed law to be a suggestion.

Photo by Joe Vecchio for the Borodino Bullett