Hearing set on derelict property law change

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Unless an unforeseen cause for material revision emerges, the Pittsford Town Board soon will be acting on beefed-up legislation that will help the town deal with derelict properties.

A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, and board members could vote on the updated law that evening.

The changes clarify how the town can act and in specific instances grant more powers to act when confronted with the problem of derelict properties, said Supervisor William A. Smith Jr.

The revised law also will help officials identify and be able to contact responsible parties to speed cleanup efforts.

“We’ve been able to use (the law) in a limited sense, but now we can use it more broadly,” Smith said.

Some changes have been incorporated into the legislation since a discussion on the proposal several weeks ago. For instance, the accumulation of debris on properties will be prohibited, as refuse and garbage already are.

The essence of the law remains in place: Vacant buildings that have gone into a state of disrepair can and will have a detrimental effect on neighborhoods, which is why many residents have expressed support of the legislation, Smith said.

Since the issue was brought up earlier in the year, several derelict properties have been inventoried, some as a result of complaints by neighbors.

“I learned a great deal hearing what folks said,” Smith said.

The revised legislation will require owners of vacant properties to register with the town’s code enforcement office no later than 30 days after it becomes vacant and includes a $100 initial registration fee. The law also requires the vacant building to be properly secured, safe and maintained.

Efforts to enforce maintenance laws have been hampered in the past because of difficulties in communicating with out-of-state owners, in particular “faceless institutions” such as banks that hold onto foreclosed homes, Smith said.

In addition to requiring contact names and phone numbers as part of the registration process, maintenance companies contracted to service the properties also must provide the town with information.

A property owner will have 20 days to get corrective work completed before town crews or a contractor is sent in to do the work — and the bill for the work will be tacked onto the property tax bill, Smith said.

The Pittsford legislation is modeled after similar laws elsewhere in the state. The town of Greece is among the local municipalities that have recently taken up the issue, which boils down to responsibility.

“Someone needs to be responsible for the property,” Smith said.