By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The homeowner of 205 Franklin Avenue in Berlin is in violation of town code for having building materials, which are classified as junk, on the private property.

(Aug. 20, 2020) Planning Director Dave Engelhart told the Berlin Planning Commission last Wednesday that the homeowner of 205 Franklin Avenue is in violation of town code for leaving building materials, described as “junk,” outside on the property.

Berlin’s town code defines junk as “refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, furniture and all other similar household-type appliances and furnishings; all types of building material, such as lumber, concrete products and other such type materials; all types of paper goods, including discarded newspapers and magazines; all types of cloth material, goods or discarded clothing; and any other type of material generally classified as junk.”

The section also states that it is unlawful to maintain junk on public or private property in the town.

“[It] doesn’t matter how neatly they’re stacked, doesn’t matter how usable they are,” Engelhart said. “They’re there for an extended period. They are junk, so they need to be removed.”

Dave Engelhart

Anyone who violates this code will receive a notice of violation and given 20 days to remove the materials before being issued a civil citation, according to town code.

“The next step, as I addressed it in the letter, was to say that 20 days is Sept. 2, and that’s when the fine of $100 a day and $200 a day for each subsequent day that the violation continues will start,” Engelhart said.

Construction on the Franklin Avenue property began with the previous homeowner, but there was a fire before it was completed.

Engelhart said the current homeowner was issued a building permit in July to complete the project.

Following the Planning Commission meeting, Engelhart met with the homeowner who promised to remove the materials.