CENTERVILLE – The Craigville Motel in Centerville has multiple violations of the state fire and sanitary code, according to Barnstable town officials.
The Barnstable Board of Health held a show cause hearing on the motel’s conditions yesterday.
Board members heard reports from the zoning division, fire department and health division about issues at the property.
Property Manager Charles Mayo and owner Tara Patel both received the reports for the first time yesterday. In order to give them time to review the reports and respond, the board decided to continue the hearing to a future date.
The fire department report cited hot plates in some of the units as putting other tenants at risk.
The health division report also cited a failure to maintain the area free of garbage.
One of the most pressing issues, according to Board of Health Chairman Wayne Miller, is the issue of long-term tenants staying at the motel.
The state has different codes for long-term occupancy and the motel does not meet those codes, he said. According to a report from the health division, during a recent inspection, 18 of the units appeared to be occupied by long-term tenants.
According to a report from the health division, a tenant who had been there the longest had been staying at the motel for more than two years. Inspectors found young children living with parents in several of the units, including an infant one week old and toddlers seven to eight months old, according to a report from Robin Anderson of the zoning division.
Property manager Charles Mayo said there were people who had been staying there for weeks, months and even years. But in the past few months they have not allowed any more long-term tenants. He said they have been seeking to evict the ones who are there.
To assist the motel management in moving long-term tenants out of the establishment, the board of health invited staff from Housing Assistance Corporation to find housing for families.
Mayo expressed frustration with some of the findings from inspectors. On an issue about a tub not draining properly, he said the tenant had not complained. On an issue of bed bugs, he said an exterminator did an inspection and found none. As for water not drained out of the swimming pool, he said, the water was frozen until last week and could not be drained.
The board voted to continue the hearing to their meeting on April 14. At that time, the board could vote to modify or revoke the license of the facility.
