BERNE — After a neighbor threatened to sue the town for what he said was his neighbors’ property — unchecked by the town building inspector — devaluing his home, Berne Building Inspector Chance Townsend filed a notice of violation to the owners of 37 West Woodstock Road on Jan. 28.

Townsend had told The Enterprise earlier he didn’t have enough time to handle all his duties as building inspector and zoning administrator. He then announced he was resigning from the post in part because the three Democrats on the town board wouldn’t increase his hours to full-time.

A Freedom of Information Law request submitted by The Enterprise revealed that Townsend cited Melanie and Rudy Stemple on Jan. 28 for keeping junk cars and “rubbish or garbage” on the property. The Stemples will have until the end of February to respond.

Townsend did not return a call for comment before press time.

Thomas Crary, who lives at 22 West Woodstock Road, had addressed the Berne town board on Jan. 9 about his neighbors’ property. He said he has been trying to sell his house for five years but has been given low offers by potential buyers due to his neighbors’ messy yard. He had also addressed the board in August 2018.

Crary told The Enterprise last month that he would consider suing the town for the difference between the appraised value and selling price of his home.

On Tuesday, Crary told The Enterprise that the news of a recent inspection of his neighbors’ property hasn’t changed his mind on the matter, noting that past citations had not led to a permanent cleanup.

He also said he was concerned that the citation wouldn’t be followed up on, as Townsend has announced he will be resigning from his post on Feb. 28.

The FOIL request, which asked for complaints or citations submitted from 2013 until Jan. 22, 2019, the date it was submitted, shows that previous building inspectors issued citations against the property owners:

— Joseph Whipple issued a citation in 2012, which led to John Bushnell, who owned the property then, or his occupant being summoned to court that year. The Stempels appeared to be tenants at that point. Bushnell, who died in 2011, was Melanie Stempel’s father; and

— Timothy Lippert issued a citation in 2017 that eventually led to the Stempels being called to appear in court that year.