Somerset Board of Health condemns Florida Ave. house

SOMERSET — After listening to Health Agent Timothy Turner describe the situation at its meeting last Tuesday, the Board of Health voted in favor of an emergency condemnation and order to vacate the property at 36 Florida Ave.

Turner said there was a young woman living in the house who was not capable of taking care of the house or paying the bills for it. He said her parents had died in the last several years. Turner said there was some mental illness involved with the case.

Turner said a dog and cat had been taken inside the house and never let out. He said the woman surrendered the dog and a home was found for it, while the cat was put in an animal shelter. Turner said two dead dogs were found on the property.

Turner said he could not go into the house to do a full inspection because it smelled so bad. He said there were dishes in the sink with cobwebs on them that looked like they may have been there for three years. He said the floors were filthy.

Turner said the woman's goal is to sell the house, but she can't sell it in the condition it is in, so he has suggested some cleaning companies to her. He said it could take six to eight 30-yard containers to clean out the house.

Turner said the state is going to help to take care of the woman who does not have family.

Turner said he told the woman that she could not clean the house and could not live there. He said the house has been secured so she can not get in. Turner said the woman is currently living with a friend. He said the woman is getting the help she needs and arrangements are being made to clean the house out. He said nothing in the house is salvageable.

Turner said a buyer for the house may have been found. He said the woman will have money after the house is sold and she will be able to carry on living in a better way.

Turner said the house is not an eyesore from the outside. He said people could not tell what was going on inside by looking at the house from the outside. He said people who live in such houses are usually too embarrassed to tell anyone about the situation. He said if people find out about situations like that, they should contact him.

The Board of Selectmen act as the Board of Health in Somerset.

Turner thanked Somerset Federal Credit Union for helping the woman. He said the woman's parents had left her some death benefits that she never cashed. Turner said the woman will have a guardian who will help take care of her finances and pay her bills through the account that has been set up for her at the Credit Union.

Selectmen Chairman David Berube commended Turner for the way he handled the situation. He said he knows Turner felt for the person because she had no family to help her. Berube said Turner took her to the Credit Union and tried to help her out. Turner said he hopes he never has to deal with such a situation again.