SALEM — The board of health addressed multiple housing matters in its February meeting.

The board discussed how to address the nuisance property at 1716 Southeast Blvd. which is in a state of disrepair. Health Commissioner Kayla Crowl recommended that the department file charges against the owner, Earl Schory, to repair or demolish the property as it has been an issue for several years and certified letters to Schory go unanswered and he has failed to appear for past court cases and back taxes and city fines on the property have totaled approximately $13,000. Crowl explained that if the department pursues charges the county court will serve Schory with papers and if they are returned unserved the department will be able to proceed with demolishing the property. The board voted unanimously for Crowl to proceed with charges.

The board also discussed the property at 551-553 E. Fourth St. which was previously discussed at length by the board in November regarding a bowing wall. Since then, housing inspectors Jarrod Richter and Rich Snyder have also requested Fire Chief Scott Mason examine the issue, and the property owner has added floor jacks to reinforce the property. The department has requested that when the weather improved the matter be addressed permanently by filling any deficiencies in the foundation walls and will continue to monitor the status of the property.

During their report Richter and Snyder said they completed 55 inspections in January and will begin tracking all housing complaints or code violations reported by residents or located while on patrol, and how the complaints came to the department. They said that unfounded complaints would not be included in these records, noting that 90% of citizen complaints are unfounded and that the department may receive 60 complaints, of which only six will be determined to be valid and logged.

The board of health will meet next at 2 p.m. March 19.