Neighbors of 103 Main St. say it was bad enough to live near a house where the tenants raised dozens of dogs.
That ended last year when animal control officers broke up what they called a "puppy mill."
The animals are gone, and no one's living at the house now, but what remains of the building after a fire seven months ago has neighbors angry. They say they are tired of living next to the charred ruins, which they describe as an eyesore and, worse, a safety hazard for neighborhood children.
The neighbors are calling on the town to demolish the house, which police say was burned in December by then-owner Anthony Lanzillo, who has been charged with arson. Investigators say he had cleaned the building of feces and urine from the dogs that were raised by renters but was unable subsequently to rent the house, which continued to have an offensive odor.
More than a dozen neighbors attended this week's Board of Health meeting to complain about the boarded-up house, saying it still has a foul odor and attracts flies.
"It's unsafe for the kids in the neighborhood," said neighbor Keith Dunning, 34, 20 Dwinnell St. "They've got to do something about it. The school bus stop is right there."
Neighbors say the home has loose boards. A plastic barrel holds a cellar window closed, they said.
The home has been a crime scene twice, said the health officials, first when the fire happened and again when police were called to investigate someone trespassing there. The board said demolition or other action was delayed because the house was listed as a crime scene for months after the fire - but the building was taken off that status in February, they said.
Police say that it was only a crime scene for the arson investigation.
"The property at 103 Main St. was only a crime scene while we maintained control of the property which allowed law enforcement the ability to obtain evidence at the scene. This was completed the following day after the fire, at which time the crime scene was released," said Sgt. Jeffery Gillen.
The building inspector, fire chief and health agent will tour the building to see if it is structurally sound, said Robert O'Hanley, chairman of the Board of Health.
"All the departments I have spoken privately with want the building torn down," O'Hanley said.
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