DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Health voted to condemn 27 Mountain View Terrace on Wednesday after not much progress had been made to resolve the home's condition. 

 

Although the board condemned the house, it also gave the owner an additional 60 days to allow the completion of necessary repairs and cleanup, but only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

 

When a home is condemned, occupants must vacate and secure the property and a timeline is established for demolition or repair. 

 

In Dalton, there's typically a one-year period from the date of condemnation during which the house must be demolished if not repaired, Health Agent Agnes Witkowski said during a previous meeting. 

 

There's also a possibility of involving the Attorney General's office, which could potentially lead to receivership and demolition of the house with a lien placed on the property. 

 

If the house is repaired and brought up to code, the condemnation can potentially be lifted. 

 

Roberta Steele and her niece, Kathleen Winterstein, who lives in Utah, have been working since June to develop a plan to address the home's condition. 

 

Steele has been cited several safety issues with the home, including clutter blocking egresses, a collapsing roof and porch, mold throughout the house, especially in the basement where there is water damage, and the lack of water, electricity, and gas. 

 

During the last meeting, they had a plan to address the safety issues, which included roofing repairs starting on Sept. 30. 

 

However, Witkowski said the roofers called her prior to the meeting to inform her that they had repaired the porch and started working on the front roof but stopped because of nonpayment.

 

Winterstein said she had thought they had all the financing in place.

 

"[Steele] had taken ownership of that situation, and so I let her do it. it's her house. And then come to find out that she didn't have financing finished, and so I was scrambling to try to get that done," Winterstein said. 

 

Steele's attorney was in the state of Florida, and due to the hurricanes, hadn't been able to contact her until last week to explore her options, Winterstein said. 

 

Steele is looking into how to leverage her properties to either get a loan or sell one and is consulting with her attorney to find the best way to handle the situation, Winterstein said. 

 

Although the remaining work had been scheduled, she said, nothing can proceed until the roof is complete.

 

Winterstein said this has been a very frustrating process, even with just trying to get someone to board up a window. 

 

"With the porch now fixed, [Steele] actually can get the furniture moved. She seems to think that she's got someone to assist her and get it cleared out within the next 10 days, but I don't have details on that yet. This is just what she told me earlier last night and then earlier today," Winterstein said. 

 

She said three people have agreed they would take care of it; however, no one has done it. Winterstein emphasized that she knows the board does not need excuses, but they currently do not have an update because they are trying to resolve the financing issue.

 

"I feel that we've given them timelines. I know it's hard that [Winterstein is] in Utah, and it's hard to manage it, but I feel like the board has given them timelines, they haven't been done, and we should probably condemn it for the safety of the neighborhood," board co-Chair Nancy Hopper said. 

 

The board had delayed condemning the home during three of its previous meetings. 

 

Board member Cindy Geyer agreed, saying, "I think we've tried to operate in good faith and honor everybody's extenuating circumstances, and I think there comes a time where we have to draw a line."