By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
Some Van Buren residents are not doing their share to maintain their properties, and the town may have to pay to clean up the offenders’ messes.
Two residents complained about their messy neighbors and asked about the town’s property maintenance law at the Aug. 2 Van Buren Town Board meeting.
Angel Sherpa, a resident of Crandon Terrace, told the town board that her neighbors have allowed their weeds and bushes to grow taller than she is. She said the overgrowth has allowed standing water to collect in the swales and cattails have sprung up.
“This is getting out of hand. If no one else has to take care of their drainage easements, why should I?” Sherpa said.
Sherpa asked if the town’s property maintenance law can be strengthened to force homeowners to maintain their properties.
“We don’t need restrictions like Radisson. I don’t need somebody telling me what color to paint my house, but we need [something stricter],” Sherpa said.
Sherpa isn’t the only Van Buren resident battling her neighbors over poor maintenance. Sandy Tokarz, a resident of Old Route 31, showed photos of her neighbor’s junk-ridden yard to the town board.
“Looks like a bear attacked this place,” said Councilor Howard Tupper.
“We used to trim the hedge between our properties — not this year. I don’t want to see it,” Tokarz said.
Supervisor Claude Sykes said Code Enforcement Officer Dave Prindle is working to correct the situation with Tokarz’s neighbor. He said the town can pay a contractor to clean up the property and add the cost to the resident’s tax bill. Sykes said Prindle has received a quote from one contractor for $5,000.
“The [contractor] wants the sheriff’s department there if he takes the job,” Sykes added.
Highway Superintendent Doug Foster said he hopes the town board can add “something with a little more teeth” to the property maintenance law to deter homeowners from letting their properties fall into disarray.
“It’s a shame to see tax dollars go to clean that up and then have it go right down the toilet,” Foster said.
Sherpa urged fellow residents to keep up with the required maintenance.
“Baldwinsville as a whole is a beautiful community,” she said. “Let’s get people to get some pride.”
