St. Bernard Parish is set to enact a new measure which would fine property owners $100 a day if they don't cut their grass and secure their gutted homes' broken windows and doors. This is discussed in the following Times-Picayune Report.

More cleanup pressure proposed
Neglect would bring fines of $100 a day

The St. Bernard Parish Council is poised to fine property owners $100 a day if they don't cut their grass and secure their gutted homes' broken windows and doors.

The fines would mount until the property is cleaned or until the parish could seize it after fines exceed the assessed value on the tax rolls.

Some council members wanted to enact the measure Monday at an emergency meeting, allowing officials to begin levying fines next week, saying the neglected properties pose "an immediate health and safety hazard." But the measure fell one vote short.

Council members Craig Taffaro, Judy Hoffmeister and Tony "Ricky" Melerine voted for the emergency ordinance. Councilmen Lynn Dean and Mark Madary voted against it. Council Chairman Joey DiFatta, who said he supported the law, left the meeting before the vote and Councilman Kenny Henderson was absent.

Despite the 3-2 favorable vote, emergency laws must be passed by a majority of the full seven-member council.

Taffaro said he plans to reintroduce the proposal.

The measure would amend a law requiring that storm-damaged homes be gutted and boarded. It was passed in the summer and set an Aug. 29 deadline for securing properties.

The parish condemned nearly 6,000 properties that were not gutted since it was enacted. Parish officials complain, however, that they are unable to enforce the part of the law requiring owners to cut grass and close broken windows and doors.

Hoffmeister initially balked at the plan to fine negligent homeowners, but agreed to support the measure after she was assured that procedures would be established for hardship exceptions.

Madary and Dean stood by their opposition, however. After the meeting, Madary said he might ultimately support the measure if it includes a grace period, suggesting the parish allow owners 60 days to bring their properties into compliance.

Taffaro said such a grace period was not necessary because the ordinance includes language giving the parish the option of forgiving fines if the land is cleaned and the home secured.

"We just want them to clean and secure their properties," Taffaro said. "Every day that passes, the residents who are actively maintaining their properties or living in their homes are subjected to Third World conditions, and springtime in Louisiana is just around the corner. We can't wait to be in the middle of spring and summer to address this again," he said, because the problems with rodents and mosquitoes will worsen.

"A lot of people are already broke and trying to do their best," Dean said. "I think it is time to be a little more gracious and a little more caring about our neighbors."

Madary said he didn't think it was fair for the parish to force residents awaiting money from the Louisiana Recovery Authority Road Home program to repair to their properties.

"This isn't about enforcing the permanent repair of properties. I understand we are in a tough spot because of the delays of financial assistance people have been promised," Taffaro said. He said the fines are a way to nudge people to follow the law.

DiFatta agreed.

"The people who have chosen to come back are living in blighted neighborhoods," DiFatta said. "This is what is going to be the impetus of bringing people back home (to fix their properties), and if not, people will pay."

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