Rockville Landlord Accused Of Fire-Code Violations - Hartford Courant

Rockville Landlord Accused Of Fire-Code Violations - Hartford Courant: "Rockville Landlord Accused Of Fire-Code Violations March 26, 2010By DAVID OWENS, The Hartford CourantVERNON — — A 27-year veteran of Bristol's fire department is in trouble in Vernon, accused of not fixing fire-code violations at a rental property he owns in the Rockville section. Stephen Sanders, 54, of New Britain, was charged Wednesday with eight counts of violating state fire safety codes. His arrest followed several months of prodding by Vernon Fire Marshal Raymond A. Walker Jr. to repair a three-family home at 108-110 W. Main St., police and Walker said.
Sanders was released without having to post bail and is due in court April 6."

Sanders offers a different view of the situation. He said his arrest was prompted by complaints from a vengeful tenant he's been trying to evict since last summer for not paying rent. To make matters worse, Sanders said, he hasn't been able to make repairs in that tenant's apartment because he has been refused access.

"I can't just break into his apartment to fix fire-code violations," said Sanders, a lieutenant with the Bristol Fire Department.

Sanders also said the tenant, Corey Ouimette, 33, has threatened him.

Ouimette, a tenant for six years, agreed that problems began in July. He said Sanders fell behind on repairs, so he began withholding rent. He said Sanders didn't deal with issues and didn't respond to requests for repairs.

Another tenant, Ben Nicholoy, said he, too, complained to the local building department when problems were not corrected. The problems include what he described as dangerous spikes in water temperature. He has been a tenant since November.

The first-floor tenant, April Devaux, who has lived in her apartment for 14 years, said Sanders is a good landlord who makes needed repairs when asked.

Devaux said his problems with Ouimette relate to the eviction proceedings. "There were no issues until recently, when Corey started getting evicted," she said.

Walker said his request that Sanders be prosecuted is the first time he's taken that step since he arrived in Vernon during the summer of 2008.

"The goal is to seek compliance by a reasonable schedule," he said Thursday. "In this case, that broke down. The effort to reach compliance stopped occurring in any reasonable manner."

Sanders said he asked for reasonable extensions so he could to line up contractors and because some work couldn't be done in winter, such as pouring new concrete steps. Those requests were refused, he said.

The code violations that prompted the charges include obstructions in the rear hallway, missing or inoperable smoke detectors, an improperly vented clothes dryer, improper wiring of a gas heater, tripping hazards at exits, broken windows and missing covers on electrical panels, Vernon police Capt. Stephen Clark said.

Sanders said the smoke detectors had been removed by someone. He said he was trying to line up an electrician to make repairs, and was planning to take care of broken glass in two doors by installing new doors.