Derby’s corporation counsel has a copy of Ansonia’s anti-blight law and will research whether parts of it can work in Derby.
Specifically, the Derby Board of Aldermen is interested in Ansonia’s “clean and lien“ program.
It’s a penalty within Ansonia’s blight law that allows a contractor to enter private property and clean it up.
It’s a way to freeze daily fines and actually cleans the mess, but only outside the house.
It can be more effective than levying never-ending $100 or $250 a day fines against a property owner, according to Ansonia Corporation Counsel John Marini.
The city fronts the money for the cleanup, then places a lien on the property to collect the debt.
Alderman Carmen DiCenso is especially interested in Ansonia’s “clean and lien” because Derby has several properties that are wracking up huge fines — but the owners are nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, neighbors have to live with properties such as the former Dworkin Chevrolet, which has become a popular dumping ground.
It’s been used more than a dozen times since April in Ansonia.
The Derby Aldermen could receive more info on the “clean and lien” during a meeting scheduled for Aug. 28.
