Danbury Homeowner Facing Over $200K In Fines For Blighted Property
DANBURY, CT — A Danbury homeowner is on the hook for over $200,000 in fines, as part of his ongoing battle with the city over complaints of blight on his property.
That same property at 22 Gregory Street was the site of a massive city-managed cleanup in January 2023, according to Shawn Stillman, coordinator of the city’s Unified Neighborhood Inspection Team, which addresses violations related to blight, health, housing, zoning, graffiti, illegal dumping, and parking violations.
“It’s not been maintained,” Stillman told the City Council during its meeting earlier this month. “Grass is high. Junk, garbage, vehicles, pretty much littered around the property. Neighbors would contact us and complain, they’d contact the mayor’s office — contact anybody who will listen.”
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According to a court order, the homeowner was required to maintain the property and also pay the cost associated with cleanup.
“The property owner failed to honor the commitment — probably not much of a surprise,” Stillman told the Council. “So he was found in contempt.”
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Daily fines levied by the court have accrued to the tune of $204,000, Stillman said.
The homeowner had adopted a “sovereign citizen” perspective regarding civic responsibilities, according to Stillman. During a court proceeding in October 2023 to discuss payment of the fine, the homeowner said he had paid nothing towards the fine, and had done nothing to clean up the property.
“So during that court proceeding, he was actually incarcerated for an hour until they came back into court and then agreed to taking steps to pay the fine. The judge ruled for a $204,000 fine that he’s responsible to begin payments on November 1, at a rate of $100 a month, ” Stillman said.
Mayor Roberto Alves told the Council his Office was looking into the associated law, “how we stiffen that up so we can move on to make it easier to enforce and not have anything take a generation plus.”
The Gregory Street property is not the only one in UNIT’s crosshairs, Stillman said. Another “sore spot” is 15 Cedar Crest, upon which the city is preparing to file a lien. Stillman said the homeowner has accrued fines upwards of $88,000.
“It’s surprising that blight is one of the number one issues that comes up with my constituents,” Alves told the Council.
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