Wellsville: Village Board says 35 N. Broad must be demolished

Michael Dunn tells the village board he can't afford
to demolish
the home on N. Broad Street

After thirteen minutes of debate, the Wellsville village board Monday night ordered the owner's of a fire ravaged home at 35 North Broad Street to demolish what is left of the home and remove the debris at their expense. That wasn't pleasant news to the owners, Michael and Marcia Dunn of Coudersport. The Dunn's purchased the property on North Broad during a county tax sale in 2018, but they say they were unaware the fire-gutted home was part of the package. According to tax records, the Dunn's own more than a dozen properties in the village. Michael Dunn questioned the board that if the home was gutted by fire in 2017, why didn't it (the village) act sooner to declare the structure unsafe. Mayor Randy Shayler said "it is however an unsafe property...and you acquired it as such. With or without your knowledge, you acquired an unsafe property and you effectively took responsibility for it." "Again," Shayler said, "we feel for you."
Mr. Dunn responded "I think it's a pretty poor precedence to make me liable for somebody else's action...that opens a big can of worms."

Trustee Jeremy Cole emphasizes a point

Trustee Jeremy Cole said "I don't want to get into an argument...but, buyer beware...this was one of those strings attached to this property." Cole added, "the village...I, I don't know what more we can do." Dunn said he didn't like being belittled and Cole said "by no means are we trying to belittle you."

35 N. Broad Street

After discussion, the board voted 4-0 to order the building demolished. The Dunn's were then presented with formal paperwork detailing the timeline under law.
Mr. Dunn said he received a quote of $28,000 to bring down and remove the home. Dunn says "I'm not made of money."