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CORTLANDT, NY-- Cortlandt officials are devising a plan to clean up a home on Harper Avenue in Montrose where the elderly homeowner has been hoarding many things, including cats.
"This is my first time as town supervisor having to take care of the inside of a building," said Supervisor Linda Puglisi, who has sat in Cortlandt's highest seat for the last 20 years. "The issue here is to address the health and safety issues for the neighborhood."
The town was not made aware of the situation at 13 Harper Avenue until August 19 when a visiting nurse called for medical assistance for the resident. State Police and the town's fire inspector were then notified by an emergency medical services worker about the condition of the residence. Nobody was able to fully assess the severity of the interior of the home due to the amount of stuff, the odor and the infestation of fleas. Also visible was an abundance of cat litter boxes and dead cats.
"Definitely a hoarder situation," said Cortlandt Code Enforcement Director Ken Hoch. "It's unchartered territory. I don't know how long it's been going on but you don't want to go in without protection because you don't know what's in there."
A neighbor first filed a complaint with the town on August 31. The Westchester County Health Department declared the home uninhabitable but not a public health hazard and left the responsibility up to Cortlandt.
"We were surprised the county Health Department was not taking over this issue," Puglisi said.
With the help of a friend of the homeowner, who is now living at The Field Home and is expected to remain there, Cortlandt will be hiring a professional company to clean up the home. The estimated $25,000 cost will be recouped by the town in the future as a tax lien on the property.
"We're going on to private property and entering the home, so we have to be careful," said Town Attorney Thomas Wood, who is coordinating the clean up efforts with the friend of the homeowner who has obtained power of attorney authorization.
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