Webster To Shame Owners Into Cleaning Up Condemned Property

BOSTON (CBS) – Webster officials are hoping to shame owners into cleaning up their condemned properties.

Inspectors in Webster have tried calls, letters, and even court to get banks and landlords to clean up condemned properties.

So far, they said none of those tactics have worked and it's costing the town thousands of dollars per year.

Larry Gignac is tired of looking out from his Webster home at an eyesore.

WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports.

"How does it make me feel? Lousy, like the rest of us," said Gignac.

Now, he's hopeful the bank that owns the foreclosed property will be shamed into cleaning it up.

"Monday if we have the board ready, we'll come down and put it up," said Gignac.

Webster's health agent got the go-ahead to post the owner's name and phone number on hazardous properties.

"I'm worried about what is going on in there, people are sleeping in there, lighting a fire in there, and when the fire fighters come, what happens?" said

Webster's building inspectors said each of the 30 nuisance properties costs the town $9,000 per year.

"Hopefully it puts a little thorn in their side and forces them to do what they should do," said Ted Tetreault, a building inspector.

Gignac hopes something will finally be done.

"Do you think when their names on the house they'll care? Probably. put a little shame on them.

The town said the public shaming won't cost much. They just need to buy the plywood and supplies for the 4-by-8 foot signs.