by Geoff Fox
Hancock officials addressed concerns during the February town meeting on Tuesday, February 10 about the status of fines on two buildings deemed to be in need of demolition, and police calls to certain addresses in town.
Town resident Sinclair Hamilton was looking for information on the demolition fund that been brought up at prior meetings to purchase the building at the 144 West Main Street so it could be saved instead of “missing a tooth in the smile of Hancock.”
The back of the building has been in a state of disrepair for the last few years with the wall on one side caved in.
Washington County gave a demolition order on the building last year.
Greenwill Consulting, the town’s lobbying consultant, has been in Annapolis while legislators have been in session in the state capitol, but Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. said letters have been sent to the owner of that building, and one on High Street, where they will begin to get fined.
“Ideally, we don’t want to lose one of our primary spots for buildings in Hancock,” Hamilton said. “That’s our main intersection.”
Lanehart agreed, saying the town would rather have the building fixed.
At another town meeting, Hamilton had told town officials how Brunswick had used the funds not to demolish, but to renovate a dilapidated building, which they resold at a low price.
Whoever bought the Brunswick building saved money in not having to fix it up, Hamilton added.
Lanehart said there is someone interested in buying the 144 West Main Street building and fixing it up, but “first we gotta do something with the man that owns it.”
Hamilton said he could get officials contact information for the City of Brunswick so they can get an idea of how the funds helped them.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Josh McCusker got a text message from Greenwill Consulting and told Hamilton the town is eligible for the funding and the firm would help with applying for the demolition funds once the portal opens up in May or June.
Nuisance ordinance?
Following that discussion, Councilman David Kerns asked Town Attorney Ed Kuczynski if the town had passed a nuisance ordinance and if it was still on the books.
According to past issues of The Hancock News, the town introduced the idea of such an ordinance and passed the ordinance in 2018. A similar ordinance was introduced in 2023, but it was never passed. The town-adopted rule would allow the town to take action against property owners if police were repeatedly called to a certain address for disturbances.
On Thursday, February 12, The Hancock News talked to Town Manager Mike Faith and looked at the town’s ordinances on the town’s website but couldn’t not find the town rule.
Faith said was unaware about the 2018 ordinance and only knew of the 2023 one.
Kerns said there was a “problem child” they’ve been having an issue with and would want to use the ordinance to stop the issue.
Kuczynski said Maryland legislators “several years ago” invalidated those kinds of nuisance ordinances.
“You can’t fine or punish somebody because the tenants are out of order,” Kuczynski said.
The statute states that that type of ordinance can’t be enforced if it creates penalties for property owners or a person who is not committing the crime.
He added the 2023 ordinance wasn’t voted on because of the possibility of selective enforcement.
Officials said last week that one Hancock address has been the subject of “every bit of 25 plus” police calls since the first of the year.
Lanehart added that the three motels in Hancock have transformed into apartment complexes and that is where problems are coming from.
“They’re the projects,” Lanehart said. “The worst areas of our town are the three motels.”
Kuczynski said there might be a zoning issue if the motels converted their units into apartments without following building regulations.
The mayor told Kuczynski the motels are renting the units by the month, which he said there is no law against that.
However, Lanehart said the people living in the motels are having their mail delivered to the motel.
“I’m not arguing with you, I’m just telling you it’s a touchy subject,” Kuczynski said.
If the property isn’t zoned for multi-family residential and these motels are renting as if they are, then it’s possible it’s a violation of the ordinances, the town attorney said.
Kuczynski said violation notices could be sent out and property owners would need to demonstrate why they are in compliance with building and zoning ordinances.
Kerns said there are motels and hotels changing to “long-term stays” and being the same building.
Faith said Hancock Police Sargent Shawn Faith went to one of the motels with rooms being rented for long-term stays. The manager was trying to evict a person at the motel and Faith said because the person was receiving mail at the motel, paperwork had to be filed.
Lanehart said if there are people passing through Hancock and want to spend the night, they either have to stay at a B&B or a place that’s potentially not safe.
Sgt. Faith explained officers were at one of the motels when guests arrived to check in and, when seeing the police, the visitors wondered if it was a safe place to stay.
Council didn’t take any action on the matter.
