Tension between Rutland public officials over public safety - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Tension between Rutland public officials over public safety

Earlier this week, Rutland City Mayor Christopher Louras told WCAX News of a new task force he created to promote public safety by tackling the relationship between crime and blighted properties.

"If the lawn is never mowed, chances are the garbage isn't being picked up. And the types of individuals that want to live in that type of environment are undesirable elements most likely committing crimes," Louras said.

The dynamic of the task force, comprised of department heads within City Hall like the police chief and the building inspector, isn't sitting well with president of the 11-member board of aldermen, Dave Allaire.

"I really didn't know anything about the task force. I received a copy of a letter the mayor had written the afternoon of the meeting, and explaining that he was putting together this group," Allaire said.

Allaire says he should have been included from the beginning.

"I don't think it's sufficient," Allaire said. "I think we need a lot more people involved, directly on the task force. And not just people who report directly to the mayor."

But Louras disagrees.

"The way it was set up is to have people at the table who can execute, rather than simply talk," Louras said.

Louras and Allaire are competing for the mayoral seat this election cycle, and are making it clear they have different ideas about how to run Rutland City.

Louras says having citizens on the task force would slow down the process, but assigning city tasks to city officials will keep the ball rolling.

"There's a new health officer on board and we have a housing needs assessment being completed. We have finally mapped all the vacant and neglected buildings. We're now at the point where we can come up with a strategic plan that has short-term, long-term and mid-term goals," Louras said.

But Allaire says people in those neighborhoods should be part of the solution, as well as other aldermen. And, he says, something should have been done a long time ago.

"This isn't a problem that's brand new to the city of Rutland. And the neighborhoods have been deteriorating and there's been issues for a while now," Allaire said.

While both agree there are problems in the city, the two public officials are making it clear, they're not united on how the solution for safety concerns.

A stronger drug-free zone law and a stronger law dealing with evicting people when landlords walk away from properties are two focuses of the current task force.

"The way it was set up is to have people at the table who can execute, rather than simply talk," says Christopher Louras.

Louras and Allaire are competing for the Mayoral seat this election cycle, and are making it clear, they have different ideas about how to run Rutland City.

Louras says having citizens on the task force would slow down the process, but assigning city tasks to city officials will keep the ball rolling.