City Code Violations Decrease

Caring more about the appearance of property may be a factor in the number of code violation complaints experiencing a modest drop in the city of Ogdensburg this year from 2010.

The city's code enforcement officer hopes so.

"I'd like to think that people are having more pride in their property," said Gregg A. Mallette, who is also the building inspector.

As of last week, Mr. Mallette's office had issued 377 orders to remedy to property owners this year. That is down from the 2010 total of 390 orders.

The decrease, however, masks a few complaints that Mr. Mallette said "were more intense" than others and that property owners failed to remedy. That meant the city, often with the assistance of a

contractor, handled a cleanup to bring the property owner into compliance. When that happens, the city bills the owner for the contractor's services plus 10 percent for administrative and paperwork costs. There is also a $100 fine.

One order to remedy that went the full distance was the demolition of a fire-gutted house on Cedar Street. The total bill for that, Mr. Mallette said, was $6,000.

Property owners who don't pay up have the bill attached to their next city tax bill.

Other examples of significant cleanup jobs include removal of accumulated garbage from porches and sheds.

Mr. Mallette recalled one case where an estimated 2,000 old tires were removed.

But the decrease in orders to remedy is, Mr. Mallette said, encouraging. Even though they dropped by only 13 from last year, he wants to believe that city property owner generally care about keeping up appearances.

"Everybody wants to see a better Ogdensburg," Mr. Mallette said.