At a recent meeting of the Town Board, Code Enforcement Officer James Crowell discussed some of the issues the town has had in recent months with various property owners of buildings in disrepair. One property highlighted at the recent meeting, as well as at multiple other meetings, is the former Pawn Starz building on Route 20, at the intersection of Route 20 and South Roberts Road. The property burned down last July and has remained what members of the board and the public have called “an eyesore” ever since. Debris from the site has also allegedly blown onto the road multiple times in the past year.

Crowell stated at a meeting in March, “The county officials are saying pretty much it’s a town problem.” He later said of the owner of the property, “Hopefully he cleans it up. If he doesn’t, we’ll have to force his hand.”

Town Attorney Jeff Passafaro met with the Town Board, prior to a public hearing preceding the recent Town Board meeting, to discuss possible avenues the town could take in addressing the Pawn Starz property. The town is reluctant to try to purchase the property – which was reportedly offered to the town – because it is unclear what other liabilities the town would take on by acquiring the property.

The property owner of the former Pawn Starz building was taken to court and assessed $8,400 in fines for the property, but according to Crowell, “he has no intention of paying it.”

Pictured is the Pawn Starz property, located on Route 20 in Sheridan, which has remained in disrepair since it burned down last July.

Crowell stated, “It’s frustrating because we went to court on this … and it doesn’t get it resolved. Then to top it off, we stand in line to collect our money with everybody else. … We don’t have any leverage.”

Residents of the town also voiced concerns about another property, located near Sheridan Bay Park. The property is said to be in such disrepair that debris has fallen into Lake Erie and washed up on the shore of nearby residents. The property was allegedly entered illegally on multiple occasions and the authorities were contacted by residents nearby. A complaint was also submitted by residents to the Chautauqua County Health Department.

Crowell agreed with residents’ concerns voiced at the meeting, stating, “No, it’s definitely not safe.”

The property was cited by Crowell, and a court date is scheduled in August. However, like with the Pawn Starz property, while a judge can issue a fine, property owners cannot be forced to clean up damaged properties.

“We had discussions with our attorney about this … and the only recourse the town really has is to take them to Supreme Court, to get an order from a judge in Mayville, not our Town Justice. Our attorney advised us to seek outside council for that,” Crowell said. “… It’s somewhat limited on the town’s ability for enforcement.”

Crowell will follow up with the county to see if there are any other possible solutions to any of the properties in question.

“We’re aware of the problems. (Crowell) is working on it. We’re doing what we can do legally, which is not that much, really,” Deputy Town Supervisor Richard Feinen said.