The owner of a vandalized Cobleskill property is angry that the village codes officer cited him less than two weeks later for failing to fix broken windows on the Main Street building.
Harry Ioannou, owner of the former Newberry’s, believes village officials should be helping downtown businesses instead of ticketing them.
But Codes Enforcement Officer Mike Piccolo argued that aside from the broken windows being dangerous, owners have an obligation to maintain their buildings.
Three large plate-glass windows were broken the morning of March 1 during a snowstorm.
Mr. Ioannou removed the remaining broken glass and closed the windows with plywood later the same day.
Two days later, Mr. Piccolo cited Mr. Ioannou with an “order to remedy,” which gave him 10 days to replace the windows.
Ten days later, on the 13th, Mr. Piccolo issued an appearance ticket to Mr. Ioannou for failing to comply.
“When he didn’t contact me, we issued an appearance ticket,” Mr. Piccolo said.
Mr. Ioannou claimed neither Mr. Piccolo nor the Cobleskill Police Department, which is still investigating the vandalism, has returned his phone calls.
He paid $200 to get the windows boarded up, Mr. Ioannou said, and the estimate to replace them is $3,000. He has no insurance on the windows.
And now he may face a fine if the windows aren’t repaired by his April 18 court date.
“They’re trying to get businesses going downtown. . .forget it,” Mr. Ioannou said. “You have to pay money to keep up with the codes. Turn around and what do they do? Fine you.
“It’s kind of a joke. I don’t understand the mentality.”
Mr. Piccolo said he acted quickly because the broken windows are “large and dangerous not to be repaired.”
He sympathized with Mr. Ioannou that the vandalism wasn’t the owner’s fault but said the windows should be repaired quickly nonetheless.
As for village government helping downtown businesses, Mr. Piccolo said the owners also bear responsibility.
“He has responsibility, too, to keep his storefront safe and the appearance neat,” Mr. Piccolo said. “They have to make their storefronts attractive.”
And although Mr. Ioannou is due in court April 18, Mr. Piccolo said he could repair the windows in the interim.
If the windows are replaced and Mr. Piccolo approves the work, the judge will probably dismiss the charge. If not, the judge could give Mr. Ioannou more time or levy a fine.
The fine could be up to $1,000 per day, “but it’s never that much,” Mr. Piccolo said.