Norwich – Several city agencies and officials already identify and address blighted conditions throughout the city, but stronger enforcement laws and a blight fund to help low-income families clean their properties would help, Director of Inspections James Troeger told the City Council Monday.

Troeger and Dan Coley, blight control-housing code enforcement official, gave a 30-minute presentation to the City Council starting with a tutorial on how blight is identified and addressed and some root causes of the problem – poverty, absentee landlords, foreclosures and properties banks don't want to take.

Coley said many times, the first phone call, letter or door knock is enough to prompt a property owner to address the problem – commonly overgrown yards, bulky waste, litter or unkempt conditions. When necessary, the city will send a letter threatening a fine of up to $100 per day. If the owner doesn't respond within 10 days, the fines start and can accumulate to the point where the city might want to foreclose on the property, Coley said.

Troeger said the city is not alone in attacking urban blight. Several local agencies and civic groups have taken up the task, including St. Vincent de Paul Place, Reliance House, neighborhood groups and local Rotary groups.

Troeger said the City Council could help by strengthening the blight ordinance by shortening response times. For example, a 30-day response time is too long for uncut grass in spring, he said. Troeger also suggested the city create a fund using income from blight fines to hire contractors to help low-income or elderly residents maintain their properties.

“Our goal is not to collect lots of cash in the citation process,” he said of the blight fines, “but to get them cleaned up.”

He said the city could go out to bid for landscaping services to lower the price for lawn and brush cutting and general cleanup.

Another obstacle is the reluctance of city workers as well as volunteers or contractors to enter private property for blight cleanup. Troeger suggested creating an ordinance to develop a process governing access to private property.

More education also is needed on the bulky waste collection system that allows residents up to two free collections per year. Troeger said many residents put out bulky waste at the curb, but don't make the necessary phone call to the city's trash contractor to schedule the collection.

“I have to say, come down any street in the city, and you'll see bulky waste waiting to be picked up,” Troeger said.

c.bessette@theday.com