The Ocean Ridge Town Commission had sympathy for Charlie Dahlem but no leeway.
Commissioners at their April 13 meeting rejected a plea to reduce a $76,000 fine for code violations incurred before Dahlem purchased the property at 113 Island Drive. They concluded the fine stemmed from long-standing compliance failures that are the responsibility of the property owner and contractor.
Dahlem told the commission that fencing and sea wall concerns raised by town officials were remedied, and he provided a sea wall engineer’s letter asserting the sea wall requires repairs but is not in emergency condition.
Commissioners noted fines began accruing well before Dahlem and his wife, Lisa, bought the lot and initiated their project. They inherited the mess when they purchased the property and kept as their builder the same contractor that compiled the fines, Bella Homes.
The commission has said Dahlem should seek redress from Bella.
Several commissioners pressed the couple about why the town should assume responsibility for fines that appeared to arise from contractor performance and missed deadlines.
Commissioner David Hutchins said the issue was not the town’s to resolve and opposed any relief. Mayor Geoff Pugh and others criticized the prior contractor’s conduct and cited the extended neighborhood disruption that prompted town enforcement action.
“We are making a significant investment in the community, and we think that everyone will be very pleased with it,” Dahlem said of the home being built. “We’re going to be good neighbors. We’re interested. We love this town.”
In October, in a tense discussion, Pugh chastised Stephen Petrucci of Bella Homes. “We have asked you over and over and over again for years to do something about the property. You didn’t listen to the town,” Pugh said.
— John Pacenti
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