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North Adams Council Gives Homeowner More TimeBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
12:00AM / Wednesday, February 25, 2009
 | | Edward Burdick defends his efforts to the City Council. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A North Street homeowner was given yet another extension to clean up his property.
The City Council on Tuesday night agreed to give Edward Burdick until Friday, May 15, to comply with conditions to be set by the building inspector to clean up and secure his two-story Victorian at 29 North St.
Burdick had faced a 10-day deadline to rehabilitate or raze the structure until Councilor Michael Bloom suggested a May date, citing the cold weather and deep snow covering materials in Burdick's back yard. Councilor Clark Billings moved for May 16; it was changed to a weekday, May 15.
Burdick assured a skeptical council he could have the property habitable by May 15, the day before his building permit runs out, or at least cleaned up.
An obviously annoyed Councilor Ronald Boucher voted against amending the order and giving Burdick more time. Boucher, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, had backed a 60-day delay in dealing with the building last December after Burdick seemed to be making progress.
But after visiting the property that morning with fellow committee member Councilor Marie Harpin, Boucher was not impressed with the results. "We're getting the runaround," he said, after passing out pictures taken of the property by Building Inspector William Meranti.
Burdick ticked of a list of reasons why repairs continue on the property a year after a fire damaged the house's basement — from the fire damage to wiring issues to insurance to illness to poor planning to furniture set outside so floors could be refinished.
He seemed taken aback that the construction materials were a problem, since he was doing construction on the house, and said his neighbors were always calling to report him. One neighbor, Burdick said "spies on me and stalks me ... It's best I can do but it doesn't seem to be enough for my neighbors."
Councilors pointed out that the problems with the property date back to 1996, long before the fire. Neighbors had complained most recently in October to the Public Safety Committee along with Meranti and Health Inspector Manuel Serrano, who both asked for stronger enforcement support.
Burdick was given a 30-day deadline to fix violations ranging from open or missing doors and windows, trash and debris, building materials piled up around the area, a washed-out driveway and other issues. When that passed, the problem property was referred to the mayor's office.
The need to replace all the antiquated wiring in the house and insurance issues had slowed the work, said Burdick, along with illness that hampered his ability to the job done.
"I've tried to do everything with this house to bring it back to code," he said, admitting, "I probably should have concentrated on the fire issues."
Boucher said it shouldn't have taken more than six months to repair the fire damage.
"You're giving us a lot of excuses on why you haven't got it done but you don't have a plan to get it done," he said. "You have no one to blame but yourself."
iBerkshires file
This home at 29 North St. has been declared a public nuisance. |
Boucher and Harpin, who said Burdick had been given more than enough time, voted against amending the date, as did Councilor Gailanne Cariddi, who was concerned that there was no clear directive for Burdick.
She suggested he return with a plan by March 10; Bloom objected, saying once the council declared the building a public nuisance it was in the hands of the building inspector. "We've done our part ... It doesn't need to come back to us."
Instead, Cariddi got Burdick to say he would meet with the building inspector as soon as possible. She hesitated but voted to approve the order with the May 15 deadline. Boucher and Harpin voted against the order; Councilor Lisa Blackmer was not in attendance.
In other business:
- The council, with Cariddi abstaining, appointed her to the Housing Authority on Mayor John Barrett III's recommendation.
- Postponed discussion on a bylaw relating to motorized wheelchairs until the next meeting because of unclear language.
- Granted permission for the relocation of utility poles on Reservoir Road and set a public hearing for March 10 at 7:30 p.m. on the relocation of poles and wires on Versailles Avenue.
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| As I have further read the statements by Tom who ever you are if I were the Burdicks I would sue you for having such statements made to the public. I have visted the Burdicks many times and Lynn is an imaculate housekeeper and she would never have tolerated the conditions you describe, because of her being a Devout Catholic she will not lower herself to your standards or rebut you. | | from: Angel | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| I am really glad to see that Mr Burdick was given more time to complete his project. I see that unfortunately Tom who is at issue is still harboring ill feelings and has not moved on. His grandparents I am sure would now at the time of there lives be more concerned with good health rather than causing neighbors harm.We all have enough worries to deal with in these troubled times of our economy. Mr Burdick is working deligently on his property, if he lived in our neighborhood we would all be helping him, it seems as though his neighborhood has forgotten how to respond to kindness. | | from: Angel | on: 03-01-2009 |
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All of these problems have come up because a neighbor spies and stalks their neighbor, and has the conections with the city officials to complain to.
These negative factors only create more problems, unfortunate that we all don't help each other any more. We have enough problems. | | from: fish bowl | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| iberkshire needs to update the picture, which shows that work has been done. | | from: fish bowl | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| Tall FENCES make for good NEIGHBORS | | from: fish bowl | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| I have called the owner and I do believe that a false accusation may lead to a legal confrontation | | from: MIA | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| Sorry for your loss Tom .However if you have a complaint about someone or something you should think before you make threatening phone calls all hours of the day There is help that is given for that kind of behavior. | | from: MIA | on: 03-01-2009 |
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| I am sick of these neighbors, about rodents and the like this is BS and the only stench is from their sickening attitude, because these people are involved with the city officials they can demand whatever they want, building materials do not attract rodents however the old lady next door does by throwing out bread every day to feed the birds and thus any other wild animals. | | from: fish bowl | on: 03-01-2009 |
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Here's a simple idea:
If your property is an eyesore, you get taxed, taxed, and taxed.
Punishment
Maintain your property, and get a lower tax rate
Reward
Simple. | | from: Guy Hawkes | on: 02-26-2009 |
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| This "House" & property has been an eyesore as well as health & safety hazard for atleast two decades. My poor Grandparents, god rest their souls had to live next to that stench emitting place for as long as I can remember. As a kid I remember the rat's coming from the Burdick property due to the family disposing of rotting garbage and storing it in the cellar for months. Another time they had a large quantity of Potatoes stored in that cellar that rotted & stunk to the high heavens hence MORE rats! I also recall times of up to 6 people living in there with no running water, no heat and no front door on the "home". This guy has bucked the system, the law's and defied the city forever. It is GREAT to see the City of N. Adams finally stepping up and enforcing the ordinances and Laws. | | from: Tom | on: 02-26-2009 |
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| The city isn't threatening to tear down this property because of building materials in his yard. It's been threatening to tear it down for many months because the owner isn't using those materials to repair the property, which is not only an eyesore, but a danger to public health. Just because someone "pays his taxes" doesn't mean he is allowed to let his property turn into a dilapidated mess. Burdick isn't alone. There are several other property owners in this city who treat their properties as if they're junkyards, and all of them should be held accountable. That's what the city is trying to do. If you lived next door to this house, you wouldn't be defending him. | | from: brb | on: 02-25-2009 |
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| What the city council is trying to do to this man is dispicable. This man has paid his taxes on his home for over 30 years and now the city is going to tear down his home because of building materials in his yard. This needs to end. Councilor Boucher and Councilor Harin have no knowledge of building codes. What is next, the city will come into your home and demand you make your bed or they will tear down your house? These gastapo tactics and the clowns enforcing them need to go. | | from: | on: 02-25-2009 |
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| enough is enough. the city and mayor keep saying they are going to crack down on this guy and put an end to it, yet everytime there is a meeting, you keep giving him more and more and more time. its rediculous, stick to one time and thats final | | from: | on: 02-25-2009 |
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