By Kris Leonhardt

SPENCER – At the December meeting of the Spencer Board of Trustees, village leaders enacted a new ordinance that will allow authorities to address exterior issues on properties in the village.

Spencer clerk Paul Hensch said the village’s Economic Development Committee had been working on the ordinance that is similar to an ordinance already implemented by the Village of Stratford.

The ordinance addresses exterior conditions of properties that might be deemed unsatisfactory.

“It is a maintenance ordinance not a beautification (ordinance,)” explained Village President Pauline Frome.

The ordinance allows the village to address situations when the property has become substandard in respect to structure, equipment, maintenance, and in situations where infestations or fire and health hazards may exist.

“If your house or commercial property is considered blighted property, reducing the tax value of the property around you, that is how we can address that,” Hensch said.

The ordinance also allows a building inspector or police chief to enter the property upon receiving a complaint, to conduct an exterior inspection for conformance to the ordinance.

The ordinance passed with a unanimous vote from the full board