Neighbors urge no vote on 19 Hill Street sale, citing blight, rats and absentee ownership

Several longtime neighbors urged voters to reject the sale of 19 Hill Street, describing persistent blight and pest problems and questioning the buyer's level of local involvement. "We are all in agreement that 19 Hill Street should not be sold to Mark Leo," said resident John Goger, who described a rat infestation that he said has spread to adjacent properties and blamed a history of inadequate maintenance.

Other residents echoed those concerns and raised safety issues. James Ferrer said town crews do some maintenance but questioned whether the town should prioritize a small vacant parcel over other needs, calling the lot a "postage stamp." Sarah Gber, a 40-year neighborhood resident, pointed to other properties she described as blighted and said absentee landlords have undermined neighborhood quality. The buyer, Mark Le Point, denied being an absentee owner and said he had remediated problems at 25 Hill Street while traveling.