DALTON, Mass. — A residence located at 96 Anthony Road is still facing condemnation unless the residents can make strides in cleaning the property to meet safety standards. 

 

The Board of Health had agreed to give Gary Dill an additional four weeks to clean the property. 

 

Since then, some improvements have been made but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to meet safety standards, Health Agent Agnes Witkowski. 

 

Dill expressed his gratitude for his neighbors and the community members who aided in their endeavor to meet the Board of Health expectation for the outside of the property. 

 

Despite having concerns, the Board of Health approved extending the deadline for residents Dill and Cheryl Goodkowsky to clean the property under the stipulation that they provide invoices and a plan from a cleaning and dumpster service to Health Agent Agnes Witkowski by Sept. 20. 

 

The board urged Dill to reach out for help during the previous meeting. Dill said he had spoken to a dumpster service the day before Wednesday's Board of Health meeting. 

 

"What I don't understand is, we've been in contact with you guys for months now and I just don't understand why the first time you're reaching out for help was yesterday," co-Chair Cindy Geyer said.

 

Dill said the project is experiencing delays because of his age and health of himself and his wife and that expecting this work to be completed within a couple of months is not reasonable. 

 

Multiple board members expressed that they are very concerned because the current state of the home is a fall risk. 

 

The couple needs to make a 3-by-3-foot path to the egresses in the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and primary bedroom in addition to cleaning the kitchen and bathroom to meet sanitary standards by Oct. 11. 

 

Witkowski has visited the house numerous times and will continue to make inspections. 

 

One committee member said she knows Dill is going through a lot and is tired but having a close timeline of when the work can be complete and proof that the residents are getting the help that they need is important. 

 

The town has been in communication with Dill for more than a year regarding the outside of the property.

 

The condition of the inside of the house was brought to the town's attention in June following an emergency call. The Fire Department determined that the state of the house was a safety concern for Dill and his wife.