LETTERS

Trial by fine

Posted 7/20/22

To the Editor,

It all started with a woodpecker.  You know the kind of bird that likes to peck-a-way on the siding of your windows.  Noisy and loves to make the big holes in the wood. …

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LETTERS

Trial by fine

Posted

To the Editor,


It all started with a woodpecker.  You know the kind of bird that likes to peck-a-way on the siding of your windows.  Noisy and loves to make the big holes in the wood. This went on for a good year and I had quite a bit of rotted wood around my 1940’s house located in Gov. Francis Farms.  I needed some carpenter to help and tried to find someone, anyone who could help me.  Well, you know the story, no one was available.

Finally, a few weeks ago, someone came to my aid.  He is punctual, pristine, likable and efficient.  He moved around the outside of the house making the necessary repairs on the siding, the trim and places I did not even notice before.  And then he came to the detached deck on the side of the house, 8 Inches from the ground and has been here longer than I have owned the house which is over 20 years.  Very warped, and desperately needed repair.   One-by-one he took off the planks and finally I decided the heck with this, I will repair it with that new Trox decking material.  He practically finished repairing it when a Warwick building inspector arrived on the scene.  Evidently, according to city rules, I had needed a building permit.  This was a shock since we just repaired the existing old structure maintaining the original framework. No big whoops here.

I went to get a permit and that is when it all came down like a ton of bricks. Fines, and more fines. Along with Warwick, now the State is involved claiming more fines, and the list goes on.  It seems to me there are more problems going on in this world then a silly old repairing of a deck.  Just to let you know dear Editor and readers, watch it.  Be very careful.  Don’t let anyone or any official claim that you are in the wrong.  If you believe in yourself in the right, then be prepared to fight it to the end.  Also, just discovered that the building fine increased 400% from last year.  It was $250 last year and this year it is $1,000. Despair.  The methods of this department seem to change at a whim.

Oh, one more thing.  The building official wants the man who repaired the deck to pull up all the planks so he could come over and check for safety.  YesA, you got it.  The same man that installed the repairs is Apermitted to pull up the deck.  But he is not allowed to put it back. I have not even paid him for all this ordeal. And talk about safety? After it is pulled up, it would be left open and NOT SAFE, because I probably would not find someone to help me out like my friendly dear carpenter has done.   Oh brother.  Peck, Peck, Peck


Charlann Walker

Warwick

letters, editorial

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