A recent ruling in the local Brattleboro court dismissed the town’s bid to secure a vacate order for the property at 6 Reynolds Drive, which has been plagued by numerous safety and structural concerns. The owner, Will Hunter, confirmed that he has issued a termination notice to the tenants. The civil court’s ruling by Judge John Treadwell, dated November, revealed that the termination of tenancy relates to unpaid rent with a deadline set for December 15, while another is due by March 1 without cause.

The judge clarified that there was no health order decreeing that the ongoing occupation posed a significant public health risk or hazard. Therefore, the town’s request for enforcement based on public health grounds was deemed insufficient. Treadwell remarked that the town’s argument was unconvincing, emphasizing that the defendants had made significant efforts toward compliance, even if not fully realized, including attempts to evict occupants from the property.

Subsequent to the court’s ruling, the town expressed intentions to appeal the decision. Town Attorney Bob Fisher pointed out in a legal motion that previous inspections had uncovered hazardous conditions that could endanger residents, contributing to a public health threat. While the inspection did not explicitly declare that continued habitation constituted a public health emergency, it outlined critical violations that warranted immediate attention.

The court had previously barred anyone from living at the property until necessary renovations were completed, following complaints received in July regarding the building’s condition. Notable issues included broken windows, undeclared smoke detectors, and inadequacies in plumbing and electrical systems. Hunter’s appeals to reverse the prohibition were turned down in August when the town took further action to enforce compliance, noting sightings of individuals residing in the first-floor unit.

The accumulated fines for noncompliance started at $100 weekly and escalated thereafter, ultimately ruling against Hunter for contempt of court when he failed to meet the stipulated conditions. On November 3, the court acknowledged his noncompliance and continued the imposed fines.

An emergency motion filed by the town on November 14 highlighted alarming findings from a structural inspection carried out by Brud Sanderson from Stevens & Associates. The inspection concluded that the property was unsafe, posing immediate threats to life and property for both occupants and neighboring residents.

Problems identified included damaged structural columns, basement moisture issues, and leaks in the sewer system. Further, windows left broken allowed moisture infiltration while other vulnerabilities in the building’s construction exacerbated the situation, underscoring the urgency of vacating the premises until repairs are adequately addressed. Based on these findings, the Brattleboro Fire Department classified the building as “No Entry,” reserving firefighter intervention for circumstances where individuals are known to be present inside.