Groton ― The town is proposing to update its blight ordinance to take immediate enforcement action against owners of blighted properties who have repeat violations.

Jon Reiner, the town’s director of planning and development services, said sometimes it takes a long time ― over a year or longer ― to get compliance on a blighted property.

Recent changes in a state law allow municipalities, such as Groton, to fast-track addressing blight for repeat offenses and have “additional tools in the toolbox” for blighted properties, he said.

But Reiner stressed that the town’s priority is always working with property owners to get voluntary compliance and making people aware of the resources available if they’re facing tough times. He added the town does not like to take legal action or fine people.

Reiner said the town is not proposing the changes due to any particular property and works toward blight compliance on a number of properties across town. Most of the cases are driven by complaints.

Tom Zanarini, code enforcement officer and planner, said there are currently about 10 cases of blight that are in stages of enforcement.

Blight occurs when there is “a serious or immediate threat” to the health, safety and welfare of the community such as a fire hazard, missing or collapsing walls or roof, damaged windows and doors or unrepaired fire or water damage for more than six months, a rodent infestation, persistent garbage or trash, unregistered vehicles, unkempt plants and grass that block access to a building or sightlines.

Proposed changes to ordinance

The revisions would allow the town to take immediate enforcement action when there is a third or more blight violation at a property within a year, said Town Manager John Burt.

The revised ordinance would also increase penalties for a violation from $100 to $150 a day, he said. If the property is occupied, the fines can be up to $250 a day, and up to $1,000 a day if it is the third or more violation at the property within a year.

The proposal also says that before entering a property, the town should “make reasonable efforts to obtain the consent” of the property owner. If the owner refuses to allow the town to enter the property, or does not reply to the town, the town can seek a court order or administrative warrant to access the property and fix the problem, according to the draft proposal.

The town also in “extreme circumstances” can file a petition to Superior Court to seek the appointment of a receiver, Burt said.

Under state law, a receiver can manage a property to bring it into compliance, according to Town Attorney Richard Cody.

The Town Council will take a vote Tuesday on setting a public hearing for June 4 to get comments on the proposed revisions.

The town’s blight ordinance does not apply to the City of Groton or Groton Long Point.

The hearing will be at the start of the council’s June 4 meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Annex.

k.drelich@theday.com