Groton Presses Ahead With Blight Ordinance

The Groton Town Council decided this week to move forward with a proposed town-wide blight ordinance that would deal with homeowners and businesses that allow their properties to become delapidated or unsightly. 

Councilors voted 8-1, with Councilor Bill Johnson against, to send the draft forward to public hearing.

The measure could still be revised or rejected, but in general terms, it would define blight as unsafe or unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, dilapidated buildings such as those with missing or collapsing walls or roofs, and properties strewn with trash or infested with rodents.

The ordinance would also apply to landscaping that’s overgrown or that blocks sidewalks, road signs or access to buildings.

Town Manger Mark Oefinger said it's intended to deal with “the most egregious types of things.”

“If people want to have a privacy hedge that’s 50 feet tall, that’s fine,” he said. “That’s not what this is dealing with.”

The poster child for blight was a property on Ann Avenue, where neighbors complained about an odor coming from the house, pieces of roof flying off during storms and snakes and rodents scurrying from the property. Eventually, a neighbor called animal control, which investigated, obtained a search warrant and removed dozens of cats from the house.

Oefinger said the problem for Groton has been that zoning rules don’t cover everything, so the town gets complaints but can do little. The ordinance is designed to correct that, he said.

Councilors who supported sending the measure to public hearing said they’d want it used as a tool to fight blight, not seek it out.

“I don’t think we should be actively going out there being a blight cop, so to speak,” said Councilor James Streeter. Several councilors also said they were concerned about burdening already stretched employees, and wanted to make sure they could do what the ordinance required.

“It’s like telling your kid you’re going to punish them, but you don’t punish them,” said Councilor Bruce Flax.

Councilor Johnson, who cast the sole vote against going to public hearing, said the town needs to cut back, not increase demands on staff.

“I think it’s just an extra layer of government that we don’t need in this town,” he said.