JEFFERSONVILLE — Town of Callicoon Code Enforcement Officer Kris Scullion addressed two unsafe buildings at the town board’s June meeting. The board moved forward on Scullion’s recommendation to serve a notice to the owners of the properties - 797 North Branch Callicoon Center Road and 659 North Branch Callicoon Center Road and set two hearings for their July meeting. 

Those two hearings took place at the meeting on Monday, July 8 as the process of the Unsafe Building Law for 797 North Branch Callicoon Center Road and the process of the Unsafe Building Law and the Junk Yard Law for 659 North Branch Callicoon Center Road were moved forward. 

The owners of the first property, who no longer live on site, were not in attendance at the meeting. Town Supervisor Tom Bose said that the owners have not made any attempt to contact Scullion since he served the notice. 

Scullion reported last month that the main house on the property has holes in the roof and is abandoned on top of several other collapsed buildings. He recommended the demolition and removal of the buildings and the cleanup of garbage on the property. 

The removal of the buildings and cleanup of the property were to begin within 30 days of the service of the notice, which was dated June 10, and the completion of the removal within 60 days thereafter.

“The home has been abandoned and the owners do not live there any longer,” said Bose. “And in my opinion, they do not live there because it is unsafe. I don’t say it is entirely in jeopardy of collapsing but the back part certainly could.”

Bose said that the owners did clean up the chimney that fell and two unregistered vehicles were also removed. 

“But none of the bags of household garbage surrounding the property have been removed,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that the owners have not complied or at least made an attempt to talk to the code enforcement officer or have not appeared at this hearing tonight. In my opinion, and the code enforcement officer shares this opinion, this abandoned property needs to be demolished. I’m probably the biggest supporter of private property there is until it comes to having a negative impact on our neighbors.”

Per the recommendation of Town Attorney Marvin Newberg, the board unanimously voted to have a Request for Proposal (RFP) drafted for the demolition of the building and cleanup of the junk. 

An attempt made

The owner of the second property at 659 North Branch Callicoon Center Road, James Minoux, was in attendance at the hearing. Scullion reported last month that the property has an unsafe building and a woman living in a camper with a water supply by a plastic tote powered by a gas generator and no septic system, as well as six unregistered vehicles. 

Minoux told the board that since the last meeting the camper has been removed and the woman who was living in it is now in a shelter in Liberty. 

However, the other five unregistered vehicles are still on the property, as Bose noted after touring the property as well as two by the bridge. Per the law, you are allowed one unregistered vehicle on your property so Bose told Minoux he needs to choose one to keep and get rid of the rest. 

Minoux noted that he wants to use his power wagon on the farm and he can do so as long as he removes the remainder of the vehicles. 

“The hearing notice which you were served with requires you to start to commence the cleanup within 30 days of the service of the notice and complete it within 60 days,” said Newberg. “What I’ve heard of you, you’ve made some attempt. You’ve gotten rid of the camper, but there are five or six unregistered vehicles. Since you did start and commenced it within 30 days, you probably have another 40 days to clean it up.”

Sixty days from the service of the notice is set at August 10 and Newberg said that he recommends the board to draft a resolution to have it cleaned up and put it out to bid. 

“You should be aware that the cost that the town will have will be assessed against your taxes and the property,” Newberg warned Minoux if he doesn’t get the vehicles removed.

The board’s next meeting is on August 12, so they gave Minoux until then to get down to one unregistered vehicle of the five on Mauer Road and two by the bridge.