Plymouth Board upholds vacate order after heated exchange with homeowner

A contentious hearing before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday evening ended with the board unanimously upholding a building commissioner's order to vacate a West Madison Street home until it can be determined safe for human habitation.

Becky Thornburg-Abair, who has owned the property at 1014 West Madison Street for nearly 40 years, appeared before the board to contest the order. She acknowledged the home "is not in the best condition" but disputed the process that led to the vacate order, alleging she was assaulted by police, bullied, and intimidated during the inspection.

Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal told the board he received a complaint on July 8 that someone was living in the residence without water, electricity, or gas. A check with the city's utility department confirmed that water service had not been active at the home for more than a year.

Manuwal visited the property on July 9 with paperwork requesting a safety inspection, but Thornburg-Abair refused to allow entry. He returned to Superior Court II and obtained an inspection warrant. On July 10, when Manuwal returned to the home with the warrant and Plymouth Police, Thornburg-Abair again refused entry and was arrested for disorderly conduct.

At Monday's hearing, Thornburg-Abair read from a letter stating her intent to challenge what she called a demolition order and asked that further enforcement cease. Manuwal clarified that the order was not for demolition, but a vacate order requiring the property to be deemed safe before anyone occupies it.

Her son and daughter also attended the meeting, arguing that photographs used in the case were illegally obtained and that the warrant lacked sufficient evidence. City Attorney Jeff Houin responded that any concerns about the warrant needed to be addressed before the judge in Superior Court II — not the Board of Public Works and Safety.

Thornburg-Abair told the mayor she had been living in the home for about a month while deciding whether to make improvements or tear it down. Her son requested 60 to 90 days to make repairs. Board member Dave Morrow said that timeline was workable under the vacate order, but emphasized that no one may live in the property until it is certified safe for habitation.

Following the discussion, the board upheld the building commissioner's vacate order.