The Cumberland County Health and Safety Standards Board has backed away from a directive to seek fines against a property owner after updated photos failed to show a clear health or safety risk to the rest of the community.
"I don't think a judge would fine them for what's in the photos at all," Cumberland County Attorney Philip Burnett said during the board's October 19 meeting. "It has to be a health hazard that you can identify. If it's not that, then it's not finable."
The property on Oakley Dr. has been the subject of two official complaints by neighbors. The first, submitted in January, was resolved in March after the occupants cleaned up the property exterior. Neighbors returned in July, however, saying conditions were deteriorating at the residence.
While neighbors brought a laundry list of complaints, including what they termed an abundance of dogs, trash, and questions of resident safety, board members said their authorization by the Cumberland County Commission only permitted them to address conditions that create a health or safety hazard for the other residents."These rules are not based on the beautification of a neighborhood or saying this home has to look like this home. It has to be a safety issue," Burnett said. "This group has to take the worst of the worst to court."
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