Town Takes Legal Action Over Blighted Property

After more than a decade of legal posturing, the town of Middlefield has taken legal action against a local property owner in an effort to force him to clean up his property.

According to court documents filed at Middlesex Superior Court on June 6, the town has reached an agreement with Richard Gervasi, owner of 113 Peters Lane in Rockfall.

The agreement was filed by Middlefield zoning enforcement officer Allan Johanson and gives Gervasi until Sept. 1 to "remove all junk, junk parts and unregistered motor vehicles" in order to bring the property into compliance with local zoning regulations.

If Gervasi fails to remove the items from the property, the town may take further action to remove them at his expense by placing a lien on the property, according to the agreement which was signed by Gervasi last month.

The document also gives Gervasi until September 1, 2014 to reimburse the town $2,000 in legal expenses. If he fails to comply with the agreement, Gervasi will be subject to a $100 per day fine for any violation, as well as any additional legal expenses incurred by the town.

Online reports indicate that Middlefield's planning and zoning commission has fought with Gervasi since at least 2001 in an attempt to get him to clean up the property.

Recently, Johanson sent a second letter to the owner of 102 Cherry Hill Road for similar violations.

Planning and zoning chairman Robert Johnson said the town is working with a third property owner to clean up a property along Jackson Hill Road.

"It appears some townspeople are fed up with properties that are in serious violation of the local ordinances and state definition of junkyards," he said. "Yet when contacted, others are more than willing to work to a resolution for both parties involved."