Fire Cheif Jan Papelino discusses solutions to increase code enforcement within the City of Norwich with the Common Council. (Screenshot from live streamed meeting)

NORWICH – During the code enforcement budget proposal held at a City of Norwich special joint committee meeting Fire Chief Jan Papelino, who also works for code enforcement, proposed a plan to bring additional support to the department.

"Contracted services is one of the bigger expenses from this year," said Papelino. "It's typically for lawn mowing the city properties and the properties of the home owners that don't take care of their properties. We end up hiring someone to go cut the grass or remove the garbage. That has been quite a bit higher this year than normal."

Standard procedure is to call the owners of the property to let them know that they are in violation of city code. Code Enforcement asks the owners to take care of their lawn or dispose of excess garbage within the next few days. If it is not taken care of then the city must come in to clean up the mess.