LISBON — The owner of Brian’s Barber Shop recently won his case in county Municipal Court, after the village cited him for failing to follow the village’s vacant structure regulations.

Brian Davis was found not guilty by Judge Timothy McNicol of a vacant structure violation, which the village of Lisbon filed against him in court in April after he did not respond to a letter he received from the village zoning inspector in January.

The building maintenance codes not only require property owners in the downtown business district to maintain their building facades, but if a storefront becomes vacant, it requires the building’s owner to make an attempt to find a tenant or sell the building.

In the case of Davis’ building, half of the building is Brian’s Barber Shop and the other half was once a tanning salon and once a custom T-shirt shop. However, Davis said when the last business left, he has now taken down the address and the mailbox. He is using the extra space for his current business.

In a statement he read before McNicol, Davis said when the last renters moved out in 2019 there was a roof leak and he spent half a year fixing it and renovating the building. Now he is operating the building as one building, just as it was when he purchased the property.

“I currently use the entire building everyday,” Davis said. “It is not vacant and I don’t have to rent my property because the town said so. This is unamerican.”

Davis said the restrooms are in that portion and he stores tools, chairs and supplies for his barber work and cleaning. He eats lunch in that section of the building.

Additionally, Davis questioned why the village is using the tax dollars of residents and business owners and using them to deter business from operating and opening in Lisbon, by taking them to court instead of just speaking to the business owner about the situation. He points out he is open six days a week and all someone like the mayor or zoning inspector had to do was come ask him about whether he was utilizing that space.

“I feel the village is personally attacking me,” Davis said. “This is the second time charging me with bogus and foolish violations, costing me wages and time and closing my shop to be here, too, your honor.”

Davis was cited into court in 2009, as well, that time for having an internally lit sign in the downtown historic district and the judge at that time also ruled in his favor.

Not only was Davis found not guilty this month, but the court costs were taxed against the village.