By Stephanie Chelf
Staff writer
March 25, 2008 05:54 am METHUEN — The city of Methuen hopes a new foreclosure registration proposal could help officials prevent vacant buildings from falling into disrepair or being targeted by vandalism, crime or arson. The mayor wants to require banks and mortgage companies to register foreclosed properties and pay a fee to the city. He will present his plan to city councilors and the public at a workshop April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The city of Lawrence recently passed a similar law. The Boston City Council is also working on a similar proposal. Mayor William Manzi said the registration process would allow building inspectors to easily identify foreclosed homes and provide a local contact person in case of an issue with the property. "Notification will improve our ability to know where every potential problem would be," Manzi said. "And a local designee we can put our hands on — that's very important to us." The $100 registration fee would cover the city's costs associated with monitoring vacant buildings, Manzi said. In the past year there have been about 200 buildings taken over by foreclosure or pending foreclosure in Methuen. "The whole city is feeling the impact of it," said council Chairman Phil Lahey. "It's a really good ordinance coming at a time when it's really needed." Local community activists, housing expects and the public have all been invited to the workshop and public hearing to comment on the mayor's proposal and discuss other ways to address the rise in foreclosed properties. "The biggest problem with foreclosure is there's no one for us to talk to," said Councilor Joseph Leone. "The rules make somebody accountable. These buildings have to be controlled." The city's Building Safety Task Force monitors vacant buildings across the city to make sure there are no public safety or health hazards. But, according to inspector Heidi Conlon, there seem to be more and more vacant or foreclosed buildings popping up every day. "We need to be vigilant to stop any potential threat to public safety," Manzi said. "Certainly on the public safety front and property value front, we want to try to get homes back on the market as soon as possible."
If you go What: Public hearing on foreclosure notification proposal When: April 2, 6:30 p.m., Great Hall, City Hall Why: To seek public input on a proposal to require a registration fee for foreclosed buildings and other ways to address the foreclosure crisis
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