City clarifies how and when it can take control of abandoned, derelict buildings
ELLSWORTH — Citing the public danger posed by neglected and/or abandoned properties in the city, Code Enforcement Officer Dwight Tilton proposed including state law on dangerous buildings in the City Property Ordinance. Councilors approved amending the ordinance 6-1 on April 19, after seeing photos of a Birch Avenue property with missing windows, open doors and a hole in the foundation large enough for a child to squeeze through — and certainly attractive to foxes, raccoons and rodents. Councilor Michelle Kaplan was the sole nay vote.
“We do not need buildings like this in Ellsworth, Maine,” Councilor Marc Blanchette said. “This should have been torn down a decade ago.”