City hires new inspectors, steps up code enforcement
New hires to the Division of Inspections over the summer has meant a marked increase in violation notices for many Plainfield property owners. Since July five new trainees began working throughout the city examining and photographing properties and writing up violations.
While the ultimate result will be overall improvement to the property, greater safety for the residents and a better looking city, in the short term many homeowners feel blind-sided by the notices in their mailboxes.
"What a stomachache I've had since I got home tonight and found this, " said Lynne Bloomfield.
As a school teacher who has just returned to work, Bloomfield was frustrated, "We only have 45 days to complete this work, and there's no way that I'll be back, even close, to the kind of financial condition I'll need to be in to even begin this work."
"We understand people are not sitting around with pockets full of money, " Jocelyn Pringley, Director, Division of Inspections said on Friday.
Plainfield adopted a property maintenance code in 1965, but it has been many years since the Inspections Division has had a staff large enough to canvass the entire city on a regular basis. In recent years the only time most property owners have encountered an inspection is when real estate changed hands.
According to Pringley, inspections have been expanded to all parts of the city. Previously code enforcement officers could only focus the "most distressed areas" of Plainfield.
Still, some residents feel that the stepped-up enforcement is being overzealous and they're calling elected officials to complain.
According to Councilman Rashid Burney one homeowner was cited for an overgrown shrub located in the rear of her property, behind her garage.
"It's baffling to me," Burney said, referring to the level of corrections the city has been ordering. "What's the strategy here?"
Pringley stressed that the Division of Inspections welcomed questions from property owners. She made the distinction between two types of notices that are being sent, one that gives 45-days for compliance and another that allows only 5-days with a quick reinspection.
There are "no extentions on 'quality of life' violations like broken glass, high grass or abandoned cars," Pringley said.
Property owners with questions about notices they have received can call the Inspections Division at 908-753-3386. The department is located on in City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue, 3rd floor.
Copies of the 23-page Property Maintenance Code are available for two dollars.
While the ultimate result will be overall improvement to the property, greater safety for the residents and a better looking city, in the short term many homeowners feel blind-sided by the notices in their mailboxes.
"What a stomachache I've had since I got home tonight and found this, " said Lynne Bloomfield.
As a school teacher who has just returned to work, Bloomfield was frustrated, "We only have 45 days to complete this work, and there's no way that I'll be back, even close, to the kind of financial condition I'll need to be in to even begin this work."
"We understand people are not sitting around with pockets full of money, " Jocelyn Pringley, Director, Division of Inspections said on Friday.
Plainfield adopted a property maintenance code in 1965, but it has been many years since the Inspections Division has had a staff large enough to canvass the entire city on a regular basis. In recent years the only time most property owners have encountered an inspection is when real estate changed hands.
According to Pringley, inspections have been expanded to all parts of the city. Previously code enforcement officers could only focus the "most distressed areas" of Plainfield.
Still, some residents feel that the stepped-up enforcement is being overzealous and they're calling elected officials to complain.
According to Councilman Rashid Burney one homeowner was cited for an overgrown shrub located in the rear of her property, behind her garage.
"It's baffling to me," Burney said, referring to the level of corrections the city has been ordering. "What's the strategy here?"
Pringley stressed that the Division of Inspections welcomed questions from property owners. She made the distinction between two types of notices that are being sent, one that gives 45-days for compliance and another that allows only 5-days with a quick reinspection.
There are "no extentions on 'quality of life' violations like broken glass, high grass or abandoned cars," Pringley said.
Property owners with questions about notices they have received can call the Inspections Division at 908-753-3386. The department is located on in City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue, 3rd floor.
Copies of the 23-page Property Maintenance Code are available for two dollars.
--Barbara Todd Kerr
KEYWORDS: inspections
posted by Bernice at 7:20 AM
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