City Given Permission to Get Receivership of Nuisance House

The City of Woburn has been granted permission to take possession of a home that has been causing problems in a Campbell Street neighborhood.

According to a post on the city's web site, Mayor Scott Galvin and Alderman Michael Anderson are pleased to announce the City of Woburn was granted receivership for a Campbell Street property with a long history of public safety and sanitary code violations.

Judge Dyanne Klein of the Woburn District Court granted the City receivership of the property at 18-20 Campbell Street, the release states. The decision, in accordance with M.G.L. c.111, sec. 127 and recorded on May 9, allows the Receiver, Fitzpatrick Contractors, to immediately take control of the property and address a variety of issues associated with the property.

Galvin set up an "ad hoc task force" this past January to explose using the recervership process as a new way to address nusiance properties. The task force included Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo, City Solicitor Ellen Callahan Doucette, Building Inspector Thomas Quinn Jr., and Board of Health Director Jack Fralick, according to the release.

In the release Galvin said City Solicitor Doucette was instrumental in working through this court receivership process—a first for the City. He also expressed his gratitude to Woburn District Court for its support of the community.

“The receivership tool in this case was a powerful, effective way for the City to take serious action against a property that has had a negative effect on the overall quality of life and home values in that neighborhood,” he said. “Alderman Anderson and I are pleased to successfully address this problem once and for all.”

Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo worked closely with Alderman Anderson during the process to proactively address the Campbell Street duplex that has been the scene of more than 200 calls to police and about 20 arrests—for issues ranging from trash, unregistered vehicles, an illegal scrap metal business, theft, drinking, arson, drug activity, and a stabbing that left a Woburn teen with serious injuries.

“This effort puts irresponsible homeowners on notice that the City of Woburn won’t tolerate this type of health and safety risk in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Galvin