The basic foundation of any community is its` residential neighborhoods. Citizens expect safe neighborhoods that are well maintained and free from deterioration and neglect. Concerns that neighbors have brought to my attention are overcrowding and the need to encourage property owners to maintain the safe and attractive appearance of their properties.
To address citizens` concerns over overcrowded homes in their residential neighborhoods, the current Council, through aggressive enforcement and with the enactment of stronger iniatives, has dramatically reduced the incidences of residential overcrowding in our residential neighborhoods. Of the 625 complaints of overcrowding received by the Town in 2007, 519 cases were closed; 382 cases were found to be in violation and those violations were abated.
We have also significantly reduced the time period to investigate and bring overcrowded homes into compliance. Days from the receipt of an overcrowding complaint by the Community Inspections Division fell from and average of 6 and half days to three days. The amount of time required to make a determination about the status of the overcrowding complaint was reduced from about 40 days to 13 days.
Another important neighborhood and public safety accomplishment that has been undertaken is the Rental Inspection Program. This program has been undertaken to ensure that all rental property owners maintain safe and well maintained places for their tenants to live. In the pilot neighborhoods, there were a number of safety violations such as inoperable smoke detectors found in residential houses that were rental units.
In 2008, we re-initiated the Neighborhood Improvement Program. This program targets safety and maintenance issues in homes in our residential neighborhoods.
Vote to re-elect Charlie D. Waddell to the Herndon Town Council on Tuesday, May 6, 2008!
