BUSTI - Another public hearing will be held to discuss the removal of more junk cars in the town of Busti.
At 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, the Busti Town Board will hold a public hearing to discuss the removal of junk vehicles from Lee and Sharon Fischer's properties in the area between First and Fourth avenues in the Cottage Park area of Lakewood. Jesse Robbins, Busti town supervisor, said 11 more junk vehicles have been cited on Fischer's properties.
It is the second time Fischer has been cited for multiple violations against the town's junk vehicle policy. Previously, Melanie Eddy, town code enforcement officer, had cited Fischer for 33 junk vehicles on his properties. Because no action was taken within the law's 15-day period to remove them, the first public hearing on Fischer's junk vehicle violations was held in December. After the public hearing, town officials could fine Fischer $100 for each violation or have the vehicles removed and place the charge as a lien on the property owner.
Robbins said after the first public hearing, Fischer removed many vehicles from his properties, but did return three cited ones, which led to the town removing them.
''He took 40 cars or more. He did a great job,'' Robbins said. ''Once these 11 cars are removed, that should be it.''
Fischer, in December, said he feels he has been treated unfairly and has been singled out by town officials.
In June, the Busti Town Board voted to pass a local law to have the authority to remove junk vehicles. At the time, Joel Seachrist, town attorney, said unregistered, unusable or dismantled automobiles will be considered junk vehicles. He said if the junk vehicle is in a structure or is in the process of being fixed to be useable and to have registered - an example being a classic car restoration - than the automobile will not be against the town law.
Also, service stations and junk yards will be allowed to have unregistered, unusable or dismantled vehicles on their lots. The law does not include farm equipment.
In other business, the board will also hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to deal with water district 7a. In August, the state's Comptroller's Office issued a report detailing that Busti officials did a poor job in monitoring finances for its special districts. The objective of the audit was to evaluate if town officials properly allocated debt and monitored special district financial activity. The town has two drainage and nine water districts. The public hearing will be dealing with recommendations from the state Comptroller's Office to meet proper auditing standards.
Melvin Peterson, town highway superintendent, asked people to give snow plow drivers room when they are removing snow from the highway, especially around intersections. He suggested all drivers stay at least 500 feet away so drivers can spot vehicles traveling behind the plow truck.