08/29/77 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 29, 1977 he drove by the house last Friday and the windows were boarded and the landscaping not complete,,, The Board reviewed photographs of the house and noted that some windows are still boarded and there is no evidence of a lawn. Mr. Brunner asked Mr. Newton if Mr. Locker was given an extension of time beyond the July 9 date set by the Hearing Officer. Mr. Newton said he was not because most of the repairs were completed. Mr. Brunner asked why the front windows were still boarded. Mr. Newton said he understood it was because some windows have been broken out since the house was moved onto the site. Mr. Brunner asked what action could be taken now if Mr. Locker is not in compliance with the order. Mr. Newton said he could send a contractor out to complete the painting and take the boards down but it might be difficult to get a contractor to take on such a job. Mr. Brunner said it would appear that there was work done in the last two weeks that should have been done two years ago and questioned why Mr. Locker stopped short of unboarding the windows. Mr. Locker said he had an agreement with Mr. Newton that the windows could remain boarded until the house is sold. He said he has not completed the interior painting because he has two prospective buyers and they want to buy the house as it is and complete the work. He said he has been unable to find a craftsman to complete the stone work. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Locker if he had two persons interested in the property at this time. Mr. Locker said he had received two inquiries. One individual attempted to get financing for the purchase but was not successful. Mr. Locker said he could remove the boards if the Board feels this would make the house more presentable. Mr. Brunner said boarded windows are symbolic of a sub -standard house in the minds of many people and he would request that the boards be removed as soon as possible. Mr. Locker asked what protection the City would provide if he removes the boards from the windows. Mr. Brunner said he would assume the breaking of the windows was a chance occurrence and would not happen again. Mr. McMahon said the lawn is clay and he would like to see some ground cover. Mr. Locker said he attempted to put a lawn in in July but the hot weather prevented it.. Mr. McMahon noted that Mr. Locker has had sufficient time to put in a lawn in the time the house has been on the lot. Mr. Brunner asked Mr. Newton to follow through on this matter and Mr. Newton said he could set a time of one week for Mr. Locker to comply. Mr. Mullen said Mr. Locker has had additional time since the July 9th deadline and has not completed the work. He said action should have been taken on July 10. Mr. Newton said he was advised by one of his inspectors that the work was done so he took no action at that time. Mr. Mullen said the repairs required by the Hearing Officer have not been made and the City has been extremely generous in allowing Mr. Locker additional time. He noted there are four actions which can be taken for non-compliance with the order of the Hearing Officer and he suggested that one of these actions be pursued. Mr. McMahon said, if this house were in his neighborhood, he would take every action possible to get the owner to comply. Mr..Brunner agreed and said no apparent action was taken for over a year and a half and he'.would like to see the situation remedied and the boarding down. Mr. McMahon made a motion that the Board direct the Legal Department to determine whether action can be taken against Mr. Locker for failure to comply with the order of the Hearing Officer to have the property brought up to Code standards by July 9, 1977. Mr. Mullen seconded the motion and it carried. Mr. Brunner requested that Mr. Newton contact Deputy City Attorney Sanford Brook today in regard to any immediate action which can be taken to remove the boarding and complete the work. BID AWARDED - WESTERN AVENUE OFF-STREET PARKING PROJECT John E. Leszczynski, Manager of the Bureau of Public Construction, submitted to the Board a bid tabulation or bids received for the Western Avenue Off -Street Parking Project and his recommendation that the low bid of Walsh & Kelly of $41,692.15 including Alternate A be accepted. Upon motion made by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the recommendation to award the bid to Walsh & Kelly, Inc. on their low bid was accepted.