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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Thought I'd toss this out for comments and suggestions.

I've lived in my 1826 house for 16 years, restoring it, adding gardens and an LBC sanctuary, and enjoying this bit o' heaven in eastern Connecticut.

Until three years ago I also was conservator for an elderly woman, my next-door neighbor, who passed away at age 80.

Her house (next door to me) went on the market, and was bought by a young guy who moved in with his two (!) girlfriends, a junker Bronco and a junker fishing boat, and two dogs. The dogs were kept locked in the house 23 hours a day, and let out to poop only between 6 and 7pm. Terrorized the neighborhood when they finally saw daylight, and continually ripped open the garbage bags the guy threw in the backyard instead of taking to the town recycling center.

Hasn't mowed his yard in over a year. Garbage still piled in back, drawing rats. Board of Health has visited several times, but nothing changes. The guy has a major drug/alcohol abuse problem, and his "buddies" come over on Thursday to play in a garage band and stay 'til Sunday night. Music loud as blazes at 2am, fireworks at odd hours, etc. The guy has lost his license due to DUI, and his job, and is now supported by his family, so he stays in the house 24/7. Never makes an appearance except when he gets in a verbal and/or physical fight with his buddies.

Needless to say, I feel a tad uncomfortable seeing my property value go down as the garbage and junk cars pile up next door. As he's broken no local ordinances other than noise, the problems continue.

I suppose I could just hold on and hope for a small nuclear accident "just across the property line", but realistically doubt I'd be so lucky. At 60 I'm not too eager to try to sell my home and "start over", altho' Maine or Prince Edward Island are looking very tempting right now.

Any suggestions? Hire a former member of the Sopranos cast?

Wanting to laugh at all this, but still, discouraged in Connecticut.

Thanks for listening.
Tom
 
As much as you want to hassle the guy there's probably not much you can legally do. My inclination would be to tough it out. I doubt his family will support him forever. (How long has he been there?) He sounds like a real jerk.

If you're serious about Maine I have a nice colonial for sale in southern Maine only 1/2 mile from the ocean. Cheap. There's also a place near me that'll probably go up for sale soon. It has a large shop and garages and lots of flat, dry land for more. Since we'd almost be neighbors though, you'd probably be going from bad to worse.....
 
(1) I'm all for the Maine idea (John: how much is cheap?)
(2) Check the noise ordinance(s) for your area. Usually the "annoyance" cut-off is 10 or 11. When they bust it, call the cops (please don't call 911). The same holds true when they start getting verbally or physically abusive outside or late at night.

I admit there is a little risk to calling the "authorities", especially with what sounds like a nutcase neighbor. I had downstairs neighbors in a condo that would regularly have 6-8 people staying in their 2 br unit. The seemed to live under the false impression that music could not legally be played until midnight - and then only at earshattering levels. To make it worse they seemed to only like playing "rap" or something similar with obnoxious bass notes that cut through the floor, the bed, the pillow, my earplugs, and into my head. A couple of calls to the cops resulted in two things: (1) one of them went outside and screamed he was going to kill me, and (2) the music was never a problem again.

Some neighbors near the golf course here are having a similar problem with a lady that bought a small place. Apparently she's a stripper at one of Daytona's fine dining establishments - and she enjoys walking around the yard in her birthday suit. She also has several people living with her, and a total of 9 cars parked everywhere they can park them. She also has dogs and refuses to pick up after them. The neighbors are beside themselves, they're embarassed to have anyone over because of the "view" and the ever increasing stench. This is also in a very active HOA area and so far they haven't been able to change the behavior of this person at all. I'd imagine lawsuits are the next step.

Good luck!
 
Hey Tom,


The family is probably payin willingly so they don't have to deal with him.

Check local ordinance or see the Zoning Enforcement Officer and ask if there are any urban blight laws in your town. In some communities not mowing the lawn or having an unregistered motor vehicle parked in front is against the law. Go to the police station in person, ask to speak to the Chief, or Deputy Chief, explain your issue calmly, and tell them your dilemma with this guy. They just might do a few more drive bys. Most town officials I know will tell him they received an anonymous complaint but be prepared for him to accuse you anyway.

Otherwise, take the resonator off the 3 and start it up ever so often between 6:00 and 9:00 A.M. while he's trying to sleep off the hangover. Of course if you do this make sure you put a steak knife or sometin in his hand when the cops do show up.
 
Our neighborhood has incredibly strict CC&Rs -- I'll recall your story the next time I'm inclined to complain about them.

Depending on local ordinances you may have several avenues for action... noise, unregistered vehicles in plain sight, pets off leash (Animal Control) & weed control.

Our city gives repeat noise violators a big red sign that they have to display on the house warning of the dire consequences of further violations.
 
Time to invite the local boys in blue (as in the whole force) to a friendly BBQ. Have you thought about running for Mayor?

mark
 
nutmegtc, sorry ill try and keep the music down a bit, didnt realize i was causing that much of a problem for ya. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif look from what youve described this joker aint gunna be around this planet much longer let alone the neighborhood dont ever stop calling the police when the musics to loud the cops will get tired of you calling and believe me thell get tired of him and out in handcuffs heck go, as far as the garbage, keep calling the health dept and sanitation dept. insist they send an inspector around, the humane society and or the aspca should be called every other day to come look at these dogs, hay one night when hes really baked give em an unregistered motor cycle for a present. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
I had a neighbor like that for 6 or 7 years.
I got a bunch of neighbors to call (with me) at various times so that the cops would keep hassling him.

I'm not sure if it worked, but his friends seemed less interested in coming over with all the cop cars driving by (and I think some of them were more like "customers" of whatever drug he was selling). I'm sure the police presence affected his "income".

One day I see him loading up a buddy's truck with all his junk and they scoot out just as the bank foreclosure guys show up and padlock the doors.

Now, a nice lady lives there and all is well.
But I'm close to your age and I was starting to consider selling myself. We only get so many years on this rock....there's no sense in being unhappy with something like this if a solution (moving) is possible.

In your case, if it's really bothering you, start looking at real estate. At least you'll have an idea of what your place is worth and what's out there in your price range.
 
There is one small detail that has been overlooked. if he's a drug user, then there are drugs in the house. Call the cops, he goes to jail. End of neighbor.
 
If you can't get him out (use Steve's method) and if you have to move, I vote PEI and I even know a real estate agent! Having lived on the Island for sometime, I will return when I'm able to retire. I will always be from away, but I'll always have the Island in Heart!


Paul
 
Be sure to tell the cops that "I THINK they have a gun".This usually gets their attention.If,& when they talk to you,just say "I guess I was mistaken".
I had the "Neighbors from heck" living by me.No quiet
times for 3 years.They got caught (after they moved out)
with cocaine,meth,& loaded weapons.He got off with a little
County jail time,& 3 years probation.Gotta love the County
DA!

- Doug
 
How close together are the houses in your neighborhood? If there are lots of surrounding houses, chances are they're pretty ticked off at this donkey's chapeau. You can take Scott's action and get the neighbors to call at different times.

The house next to my parent's is a rental (one of a couple in the neighborhood), and a few years ago we had two young guys rent it. They were there about three weeks before the loud late night parties started. Every single weekend....and eventually they were kicked out by the landlord because of all the complaints to both her and the police (who talked to the landlord about it as well).

-Wm.
 
Closed garbage bags that have been sitting in the sun for a long time sometimes just internally combust on their own!
 
"Swamp gas"... Methane.

...that's MY excuse, I'm stickin' with it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
& when they do combust & you call the fire department, also call the humane society & the police with a tip that the fire actually began while they were cooking meth!!
 
If any of his "visitors" appear under the legal age,
a call to children services might get prompt action.

d
 
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