Embedded Files
Newspaper articles and other web links related to the Ilion Citizens Codes Committee and Codes Enforcement in General.
Newpaper Contacts:
Donna Thompson Times Telegram
email donna@timestelegram.com
Observer Dispatch - Public Eye Reporter
Carolyn Bostick
email cbostick@uticaod.com
Reporter Carolyn Bostick investigates neighborhood complaints each week and reports the findings. If something is broken or neglected in your neighborhood, tip off Public Eye by sending an email with a thorough description of the problem to news@uticaod.com, with Public Eye in the subject line. Letters also can be sent to Public Eye, Observer-Dispatch, 221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, NY 13501.
By Donna Thompson / donna@timestelegram.com
Posted Mar 4, 2019 at 5:00 PM
The village of Ilion is still looking for a codes officer. And if the village can’t hire one soon, Mayor Brian Lamica is prepared to look at other options.
Lamica said he plans to interview one applicant for the position, but if that doesn’t work out, another option would be for the village to get out of the codes business.
If the village decided to go in that direction, the town would be asked to take on the codes responsibilities, he said. If the town does not take it over, the county would be asked to do so.
The mayor said he spoke to former Fire Chief Karl Tripple about the problem and Tripple said a county codes department might be the way for Ilion and other villages to go.
By Donna Thompson Jan 10, 2019
Tim Carter, who has been serving as the village property maintenance and codes officer, announced his resignation during a discussion about a building permit at Wednesday’s village board meeting.
Fire-damaged properties concern Ilion officials
By Donna Thompson Jan 7, 2019
This burned out house at 245 East Main Street is one of two fire-damaged properties in the village that are a concern to village officials. The house burned last year and the owner had no insurance.
Ilion board accepts grant for stairway project
By Donna Thompson Dec 3, 2018
The project to refurbish the outdoor stairway between Otsego Street and Remington Avenue took a step forward last week when the village board voted to accept a $100,000 state grant for the work.
Ilion officials: Clearing sidewalks is property owners' responsibility
By Donna Thompson Updated Mar 23, 2017
Village residents who think it's the village of Ilion's responsibility to clear the sidewalks after a snowstorm should check the village code, according to Property Maintenance Officer Tim Carter.
Ilion considers rental registry law
By Donna Thompson Updated Mar 9, 2017
Owners of multiple dwelling units in the village of Ilion could soon be required to submit contact information for a rental registry.
Ilion to seek state grant for stair project
By Donna Thompson Updated Feb 23, 2017
The Save Our Stairs committee has suspended fundraising efforts pending the outcome of a request by the village of Ilion to obtain a state grant for the project.
Listen to the related Radio Broadcast on Keeler Show
Ilion to install new LED street lights
By Donna Thompson Posted Feb 24, 2017 at 8:05 PM
The village of Ilion expected to take delivery on its new street LED lights on Thursday as part of its plan to qualify as a Clean Energy Community.
Funds continue to come in for stairs project
By Donna Thompson Updated Jan 20, 2017 at 3:28 PM
The Save Our Stairs fund is growing, with the total climbing to $1,592 as of Wednesday, according to committee fundraising Chairman Barbara DeGouff.
Kramas takes on Ilion administrator's post
By Donna Thompson Updated Jan 23, 2017 at 1:24 PM
The village board named James Kramas village administrator earlier this month and he has taken on the challenge of not only filling the position, but essentially creating it.
Ilion to buy LED street lights
By Donna Thompson Updated Jan 12, 2017 at 5:04 PM
James Kramas, who was named to the new village administrator's post after an executive session Wednesday, said the need for space would be temporary.
Ilion OKs buyouts for 36 homes
By Donna Thompson Posted Jan 7, 2017 at 9:36 AM
The Ilion Village Board has approved buying 36 homes under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood buyout program. If all of those purchases go through, that would result in a loss of about $40,000 in tax revenue for the village, he said. Any buildings on property the village buys under the program would be razed; nothing could be built there and the property could not be resold. The goal of the buyout program is to reduce the risk of flooding by demolishing homes that are in harm's way. The village would have to pay up front for the properties and would then request reimbursement under the program.
Donations begin coming in for Ilion stairway project
By Donna Thompson Updated Jan 3, 2017 at 5:11 PM
The amount raised for the repair of the outdoor stairway between Otsego Street and Remington Avenue in Ilion now stands at $1,137, according to Bill Richards.
Save Our Stairs project gets first donation
By Donna Thompson Updated Dec 19, 2016 at 4:17 PM
The Save Our Stairs fundraising effort recently received its first donation.
Jody Janicki presented a $100 check for the project Friday at Berkshire Bank in Ilion. Those who would like to donate can make checks made payable to S.O.S. and send them to S.O.S. c/o Berkshire Bank, 1 Central Plaza, Ilion, NY 13357.
Rental inspections out, apartment registrations remain intact
By CRAIG FOX CFOX@WDT.NET
PUBLISHED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016 AT 12:34 AM
UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016 AT 12:36 AM
"In what was being called a compromise, council members agreed that rental inspections will only be voluntary. But they also decided to move forward with requiring rental registration for about 7,500 apartments in the city."
It's time to ban parking in the city's front yards
By David Goyette, Special to ThePeterborough Examiner
Thursday, March 31, 2016 9:30:14 EDT AM
"The front lawn parking of vehicles is problematic and here's why. They debase the aesthetic of the lawn and destroy green space and vegetation along with its many natural benefits. They can block sidewalks, making it difficult for pedestrians and obscuring sightlines for drivers. They can leak oil or antifreeze which can migrate into the groundwater. Over time, heavy vehicles can change drainage patterns and affect neighbouring properties. They can make the work of fire fighters more challenging. By their access and egress from the lawn rather than the driveway, they can damage curbs. Backing out from the lawn rather than the driveway increases safety risks for pedestrians and drivers. Their movement from the lawn may be in conflict with a car in an on-street parking space."
OUR VIEW: Be aware of signs of the times
The Observer Dispatch editorial - September 23 , 2016
"In short, campaign signs are an expression of free speech and must never be suppressed. But they can become obnoxious. Municipalities need to be vigilant when things get out of hand. And by all means, if they have laws on the books regulating them, enforce them. That goes for all laws."
Public Eye: Ilion again looking for part-time codes officer
By Carolyn Bostick Posted Aug 21, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Ilion's new part-time Property Maintenance officer started on the job July 5. After a month in the position, he tendered his resignation.
Posted Jun. 12, 2016 at 1:39 PM
A cleanup day at the Ilion mall is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on June 18. The mall will be the site of some of the activities during Ilion Days, including a church service at the gazebo.
Public Eye: 30-day deadline set for Ilion property owner
By Carolyn Bostick Posted May 1, 2016 at 7:00 AM
The deadline is 30 days for the owner to demolish the property or the village will have to have to proceed.
http://www.timestelegram.com/article/20160605/NEWS/160609718
By Donna Thompson Posted Jun. 5, 2016 at 2:08 PM
The Herkimer Village Planning Board has taken on the task of developing a master plan for the village and members are looking for input.A survey has been posted at http://www.voherkimer2020.com/ and residents are encouraged to fill it out and offer their ideas about what they’d like to see happen.
By Donna Thompson Posted Apr. 24, 2016 at 11:54 AM
Dave Kuehnle submitted his resignation from the village codes officer position effective April 15. Mayor Tony Brindisi expressed thanks to Kuehnle for his service and said the village is looking for a replacement. Fire Chief John Spanfelner is filling in as codes officer.
Public Eye: Ilion property steadily getting worse
By Carolyn Bostick Apr. 24, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Things get worn down over time. But when it’s a house in your neighborhood that begins to crumble, it’s another matter entirely. One such property in Ilion is slowly being overtaken by nature as it becomes more and more dilapidated.
Public Eye: Utica man sick of rodents in neighboring property
Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 8:02 AM
A neighbor contacted Public Eye to see what was being done with a garage that is falling apart at 106 Clinton Place in Utica. Broken windows, a buckling roof and a rodent problem have made the building an eyesore to its neighbors.
Utica's fire suppression system gets good grade [ISO Rating for Utica]
By S. Alexander Gerould Updated Feb 8, 2016 at 2:48 PM
Fire Chief Russell Brooks announced Monday that the city [Utica] will maintain its Class 2 Insurance Office rating, after the risk assessment office evaluated several factors, including manpower, water supply, climate, communications and a city’s building stock when making a determination.
Fire chief discusses ISO rating
By Donna Thompson Posted Jul. 15, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Ilion Fire Chief James Trevett reported his department is working to make some improvements after the latest Insurance Services Office inspection resulted in a downgrade from a Class 4 to a Class 5. ...The ISO is an independent inspection and verification company, which certifies career and volunteer fire service agencies' capabilities....The rating could impact local insurance rates. “It's not a big thing,” Trevett said the results. “It shouldn't hurt the residential properties, but it could hurt the commercial ones.”....The ISO survey cited the fire department for its training. ....The department meets New York state standards, according to Trevett, but the ISO calls for additional hours of training, something that isn't practical given the size of the department.....ISO also wanted to see more manpower responding to structure fires. ...“It's a numbers thing,” Trevett said.....Asked how Ilion's rating compares with other local communities, Trevett said, “We're with everybody else.”
Ilion residents offer ideas about stairway
By Donna Thompson Posted Feb. 11, 2016 at 6:07 PM
About two dozen people turned out for Wednesday's public hearing on the future of an outdoor stairway in the village and those who spoke wanted to see the stairs repaired or replaced.
Ilion considers next steps to resolve flooding problems
By Donna Thompson Posted Jan. 31, 2016 at 1:20 PM
The Ilion village board is trying to determine its next step in resolving flooding problems in the Columbia Parkway area after the village's application for grant funding was rejected.
Ilion board sets hearing on stairway
By Donna Thompson Posted Jan. 29, 2016 at 6:07 PM
The Ilion village board voted Wednesday to set a public hearing on the matter for 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 in the auditorium of the municipal building on Morgan Street.
Many signs in Ilion not in compliance with codes
By Donna Thompson Posted Dec. 23, 2015 at 4:00 PM Utica Observer Dispatch
Chapter No. 185 of village law sets the rules for advertising signs. Businesses are permitted to have two signs in the business district. The code includes specifications on the size and placement of signs.
Ilion board OKs policy service for police
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Dec. 22, 2015 at 6:05 PM
The village board voted on Dec. 16 to authorize Police Chief Timothy Parisi to subscribe to a service offered by Lexipol. He said the service would update the department's policies and provide bulletins for updates and training.
Town of Herkimer to crack down on delinquent water customers
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Dec. 24, 2015 at 8:02 PM
The subject came up at Monday's town council meeting in response to recent action by the Herkimer County Legislature, which voted at its Nov. 18 meeting to terminate reimbursement of municipalities for unpaid water and sewer bills on premises taken by the county in tax foreclosure proceedings.
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Dec. 21, 2015 at 5:28 PM
The issue came up during last Wednesday's meeting of the Ilion village board after Mayor Terry Leonard reported a business was interested in advertising on village benches.
Utica Observer Dispatch Editorial
OUR VIEW: City codes, fire rules must be enforced
Utica Observer Dispatch Posted Jun. 15, 2014 at 3:30 AM
Snippet below - Please read the full editorial on the importance of Codes Enforcement.
Property inspections are critical to public safety. In addition to the state law on commercial properties, Utica also has required fire and codes inspections on rental properties since 2006. That plan was initially pitched in 2005 by Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks who had studied a similar program in Albany that was designed to ensure that rental properties — interior and exterior — meet state fire and maintenance codes.
That idea initially met strong opposition from many landlords who worried about the added costs for the inspections as well as the inconvenience. But steady complaints by residents about absentee landlords and destructive tenants finally convinced the Common Council that such a law would enhance public safety. And it has. Brooks says that before the inspections, 90 percent of Utica’s fires were in rental dwellings. Inspections have reduced that by half.
Court order prohibits entrance to Word of Life
By Micaela Parker mparker@uticaod.com Posted Dec. 17, 2015 at 11:50 AM
New Hartford Town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski said the order is part of the town’s pending nuisance abatement proceeding and will stay in place until the matter is heard in court.
Ilion board closes stairway, seeks property officer
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Dec. 4, 2015 at 6:33 PM
The Ilion village board voted to close off an outdoor stairway and decided to move ahead with seeking a property maintenance officer during a special meeting Wednesday evening.
Public Eye: Vacant Barneveld property set to go up for auction
The Observer Dispatch Posted By Carolyn Bostick Nov. 22, 2015 at 9:30 AM
With an unsecured door and safety and health issues, a property in Barneveld has left the neighbors in the lurch due to an absentee landlord.
App, website to help Oneida track resident complaints
By Jolene Cleaver Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 2:59 PM
This week the City of Oneida introduced YourGOV, a citizen request application allowing residents to report non-emergency issues and service requests using the Internet or a smartphone...In three steps, YourGOV users can notify the city of common issues — such as potholes, vandalism and street light outages — and provide the location, details and photos of the problem... “Those requests can turn into actual work orders,” Rauscher said. “It’s a good way to keep track of where maintenance costs are going.”... YourGOV is being offered free of charge and is available for immediate use online at: https://yourgov.cartegraph.com.
Residents with Apple iPhones or Android-enabled smartphones also can download the free YourGOV app from the iTunes App Store, or Google Market and the Amazon App Store
Ilion seeks brownfield study on Duofold property
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Nov. 19, 2015 at 6:35 PM
Fire Chief James Trevett, who also serves as the village codes officer, said two people from the state of Washington stopped in and asked to see the property. They are currently taking apart a warehouse in Little Falls to salvage the wood and other materials to sell.
Herkimer Board appoints members to CAC
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Sep. 13, 2015 at 10:47 AM
The board approved the appointments of the following: Dr. Robert DeCarlo, Valerie Duncan, Elena Scalise and Claudia Skandera. Brown will serve as board liaison to the committee. He said the members are already bringing up some ideas and more members could be added.
Little Falls resident wants to take down abandoned house
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Nov. 15, 2015 at 10:43 AM
A Loomis Street resident would like to take ownership of a neighboring property and tear down the abandoned house there.
Consultants seek to gauge interest in flood project
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Nov. 18, 2015 at 6:27 PM
Ilion Mayor Terry Leonard, left, looks over a conceptual map with residents who attended a meeting about stream channel and flood plain restoration along a portion of Steele Creek
Process of licensing electrical inspectors in New Hartford to change
By Jolene Cleaver jcleaver@uticaod.com Posted Nov. 14, 2015 at 9:15 AM
“I personally think the Town Board of the Town of New Hartford should be commended for trying to make safety a priority,” he added. (Joe Booth, New Hartford codes enforcement officer)
Public Eye: Ilion committee tackling codes issues
By Carolyn Bostick cbostick@uticaod.com Posted Nov. 8, 2015 at 7:00 AM
As it says on the committee’s website, “Codes enforcement is everyone's responsibility. “
Herkimer planners seek improved codes enforcement
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 5:50 PM
The Herkimer Planning Board is recommending the village of Herkimer take steps to improve codes enforcement. Planning Board Chairman Brion Carroll told the village board during a meeting Monday the planning board would like to see the village “establish predictable means of enforcing existing codes.”
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 6:52 PM
A delay in processing for the home buyout program was among the issues discussed at Monday's meeting of the Community Flood Action Group.
Utica's online presence ascends; other municipalities fall short
The Observer Dispatch By Philip A. Vanno Posted Oct. 5, 2015 at 3:39 PM
I.T. Project Manager Frank M. Mutolo said the new site, which can be translated into multiple languages to better serve the city’s diverse population, has received about 120 inquiries and complaints from constituents since June through its “Report an Issue” section, and collected nearly $354,000 from its new online tax payment feature that debuted in July.
Utica Codes Sweeps
April 7, 2015
Snippet -
Since the Mayor took office in January of 2012, he and his department heads have conducted Quality of Life Sweeps every Wednesday through the months of April-December. To date, the Mayor has led 102 Sweeps which have covered over 222 miles throughout the City.
Rome - City considering options after 2 arrested at troubled Rome motel
The Observer Dispatch By Micaela Parker Posted Oct. 2, 2015 at 1:29 PM
Those options include utilizing an administrative hearing under the city's nuisance abatement law, which also could allow city officials to revoke the motel's certificate of occupancy and require that the owner take certain steps to abate the nuisance.
Mohawk names new codes officer
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Oct. 1, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Scott Schneegas will take over the position from Richard Steele, who resigned from the part-time post due to a job change. "I'm not afraid to enforce any rule or law as long as it's clear,” said Schneegas. “I don't think some of it is clear and transparent.” He suggested that the codes be posted on the village's website.
Store owner prepares for opening
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Sep. 26, 2015 at 10:43 PM
Members of the newly formed citizens committee to address village codes issues reported they had met with Trevett and are getting organized.
Citizens group raises concerns about village codes
By Donna Thompson donna@timestelegram.com Posted Sep. 13, 2015 at 11:39 AM
The Observer Dispatch March 23, 2015 at 11:58 AM
A property on Spring St. in Ilion had a tenant leave a pile of tires behind after suddenly moving out. The landlord has since been working on removing the large quantity of tires and progress is slowly being made.
New board takes over revitalization of downtown Herkimer
MARK DIORIO / Observer-Dispatch Posted Jul. 31, 2015
The newly formed Village Planning Board has taken over the task of revitalizing Herkimer's Main Street from Herkimer Now, a grassroots organization that formed in 2010 whose sole purpose was to revitalize the street.
Palmieri to speed up legal actions against ‘bad landlords’
The Observer Dispatch Dec. 3, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Mayor Robert Palmieri on Monday said he plans to use a rarely-applied state law to more efficiently crack down on Utica’s high rate of abandoned and vacant structures while they are still viable. By utilizing Title 19-A of the Real Property and Proceedings Law, Palmieri said this law will help the City effectively defend itself against property owners who view Utica as “low-hanging fruit.”
Ilion seeks to upgrade sewer lines
The Observer Dispatch Aug 23, 2013 at 11:20 PM
Village officials are hoping to secure a $600,000 grant to help fund the first phase of what could be a $1 million two-phase sewer line replacement project.
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