Oh No Jim Ireton & Rick Pollitt, You Had NOTHING To Do With Driving Down Property Values

City Enforcing Codes to Ensure Absentee Owners Don’t Drive Down Property Values

Case In Point: 203 New York Ave., Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton has authorized the release of the following timeline:

· 9/20/2011 – Initial case opened for tall grass violation *

· 10/5/2011 – Violation was re-inspected and found to be in non-compliance. City secured contractor to cut grass.

· 10/7/2011 – Contractor cut grass at 203 New York Avenue

· 10/14/2011 – Property owner was billed a total of $225.00 for grass cutting ($125.00 for contractor fee and $100.00 for administrative fee).

· 6/4/2012 – Property owner was mailed an invoice for the outstanding unpaid balance due for the above grass cutting.

· 10/9/2012 – Property owner was again mailed an invoice for the outstanding unpaid balance due for the above grass cutting.

· 4/23/2013 - Property owner was again mailed an invoice for the outstanding unpaid balance due for the above grass cutting.

· 3/14/2014 – Property owner was mailed a letter informing her of the pending tax sale due to the outstanding balance on the subject property. The letter was returned by the Postal Service stating that the structure was vacant with no forwarding address given.

· 5/6/2014 - Property owner was again mailed an invoice for the outstanding unpaid balance due for the above grass cutting.

· 8/5/2014 – Notice of tax sale was mailed to the property owner, stating the property was sold on June 11, 2014, with the explanation of how to redeem the property.

*Property owner had the opportunity to appeal this violation to the Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals but did not do so within the 21 day deadline.

"Local blogs are again trying to tear down Salisbury neighborhoods. This property has been vacant for over six years, with no water service turned on. Any insinuation that an elderly woman is living there is categorically false. No, it’s a lie. As recently as 12:15 PM today, a truck from out of town was at the property cleaning it up in anticipation of this release. I believe in liberty and freedom. That freedom is for our hardworking property owners that live adjacent to this property. They need freedom from absentee landlords who care nothing for these properties and believe it is perfectly ok to affect surrounding property values negatively. This issue is about property rights – the rights of working people and retirees that have no recourse against slumlords," said Mayor Ireton.

Publishers Notes: Mr. Ireton, "Freedom" is ALL of ours, not just select people YOU so choose. Since when did you become a DICKTATOR? 

It amazes me how you and the former Mayor feel the need to attempt to defame Salisbury News, (Blog) simply for publishing a Letter to the Editor, which, by the way is FREEDOM OF SPEECH. 

Now YOU have a team of lawyers working for the City and should YOU feel the need to ever challenge me in Court to fight our Freedom of Speech, well, you go right ahead. 

You are using TAXPAYER MONEY to spread your one sided BS only because you own the LIBERAL media in Town who would NEVER go against the Liberal Party Leaders because they wouldn't want to bite off the hand who feeds them.

I'll add, I can remember a day, no, a person, (YOU) who used to be one of us. You used to join forces to fight such underhanded people like you've become. You came out of the closet once, you should try doing it again.