North Adams Council Gives Homeowner More Time
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| Edward Burdick defends his efforts to the City Council. |
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. |
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.
